Boulder Creek, CA vs Los Osos, CA

Boulder Creek, CA and Los Osos, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.1% difference in their overall index. Boulder Creek scores 160 while Los Osos scores 156 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Boulder Creek is $1,844/month compared to $1,909/month in Los Osos — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Boulder Creek has cheaper rent, Los Osos actually has lower median home values ($728,000 vs $785,200).

Median household income in Boulder Creek is $106,842 compared to $103,504 in Los Osos (+3.2%). While Boulder Creek is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boulder Creek spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, less than the 22.1% in Los Osos.