What is the cost of living in Scotts Valley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Scotts Valley has an overall cost of living index of 196, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Scotts Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Scotts Valley ranks as #514 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Scotts Valley ranks as the #120 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Scotts Valley, check out:
Scotts Valley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Scotts Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Scotts Valley is 114.
The Groceries index in Scotts Valley is 116.
The Health index in Scotts Valley is 378.
The Housing index in Scotts Valley is 117.
The Transportation index in Scotts Valley is 117.
The Utilities index in Scotts Valley is 121.
| Living Expense | Scotts Valley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 196 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 378 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Scotts Valley Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Scotts Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Scotts Valley, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Scotts Valley is $1,260,977.
The Median Rent in Scotts Valley is $2,491.
The Median Income in Scotts Valley is $143,750.
The Home Value To Income in Scotts Valley is 8.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Scotts Valley is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Scotts Valley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,260,977 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,491 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $143,750 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Scotts Valley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Scotts Valley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Scotts Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Scotts Valley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Scotts Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Scotts Valley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Scotts Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Scotts Valley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Scotts Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Scotts Valley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Scotts Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Scotts Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Scotts Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Scotts Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Jose, CA has a cost of living index of 216, 1.1x Scotts Valley.
Santa Cruz, CA has a cost of living index of 206, 1.1x Scotts Valley.
Cupertino, CA has a cost of living index of 329, 1.7x Scotts Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Scotts Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 990,138 | 216 | 1.1x |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 61,607 | 206 | 1.1x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.7x |
| Campbell, CA | 42,781 | 234 | 1.2x |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | 306 | 1.6x |
| Saratoga, CA | 30,319 | 338 | 1.7x |
| Live Oak, CA | 16,911 | 118 | 0.6x |
| Soquel, CA | 10,679 | 185 | 0.9x |
| Rio del Mar, CA | 9,201 | 214 | 1.1x |
| Interlaken, CA | 8,068 | 160 | 0.8x |
