City Comparison

Concord vs Santa Rosa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Santa Rosa

California
152
Very Expensive
$720,000
Median Home
$2,100/mo
Median Rent
$94,300
Median Income

The Verdict

36.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 36.8%, with Concord being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to $118,750 in Santa Rosa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
89
Concord
233
Santa Rosa
Groceries
97
Concord
107
Santa Rosa
Utilities
97
Concord
135
Santa Rosa
Transportation
92
Concord
128
Santa Rosa
Healthcare
104
Concord
112
Santa Rosa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $118,750 in Santa Rosa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $47,368 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Santa Rosa

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $720,000. The $340,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,104 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 107 in Santa Rosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $508/month in Santa Rosa. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $540 in Santa Rosa. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 112 in Santa Rosa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $86,900 in Concord and $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $62,039 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 144 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 36.8% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $118,750 in Santa Rosa, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Santa Rosa's is 233 with median homes at $720,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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