UC Santa Cruz budgets $15,120 for housing and $6,837 for food for a new undergraduate living on campus in 2026–27. This is a short guide: those are budget estimates, not residence hall contract prices, and I could not find a verified Santa Cruz rent figure.
Details come from UC Santa Cruz Financial Aid and Scholarships, checked on 23 October 2026. The figures cover the fall, winter and spring terms for entering undergraduates, and the page says housing and food amounts are the same for continuing students. They do not include living expenses over winter and spring breaks.
UCSC housing and food budget, 2026–27
| Category | On campus | Off campus | Commuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $15,120 | $15,614 | $3,956 |
| Food | $6,837 | $5,947 | $4,834 |
An allowance is an average used to work out financial aid, so your own room and meal plan charges will differ. Check the UCSC Housing Office for the price of a specific room.
Private rental in Santa Cruz
Apartment List’s Santa Cruz page showed no rent figures, so I have quoted none. The off-campus housing budget of $15,614 for the year is the only verified off-campus figure here, and it is an aid estimate.
I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks, because I could not verify prices or area details against reliable sources. View any room in person or on a live video call, get a written lease and never pay before you have one.
FAQs about student accommodation in Santa Cruz
How much does UCSC budget for on-campus living?
$15,120 for housing and $6,837 for food in 2026–27, an aid budget rather than a price list.
What is the rent in Santa Cruz?
I could not verify a current figure. UCSC budgets $15,614 a year for off-campus housing.
Comparing California options? See our guides to student accommodation in San Jose, Berkeley and Santa Barbara, or browse all US student accommodation guides.
Sources
All checked 23 October 2026.
