City Comparison

Ithaca vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

32.4%

Ithaca is 32.4% less expensive than Roseville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ithaca would need approximately $110,904 in Roseville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
117
Ithaca
179
Roseville
Groceries
103
Ithaca
105
Roseville
Utilities
102
Ithaca
163
Roseville
Transportation
96
Ithaca
134
Roseville
Healthcare
99
Ithaca
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $110,904 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $50,719 in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Ithaca's housing index of 117 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $625,000. The $301,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,560 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca vs $499/month in Roseville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Ithaca and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca vs $652 in Roseville. 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 99 in Ithaca and 106 in Roseville. 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 $48,600 in Ithaca and $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $3,332/month in Roseville. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca is 32.4% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $110,904 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Ithaca's housing index is 117 with median homes at $324,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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