City Comparison

Lowell vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

Roseville

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

The Verdict

5.8%

Living in Lowell costs 5.8% less than Roseville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Lowell, you would need $79,580 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
152
Lowell
179
Roseville
Groceries
104
Lowell
105
Roseville
Utilities
151
Lowell
163
Roseville
Transportation
108
Lowell
134
Roseville
Healthcare
118
Lowell
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lowell has the same purchasing power as $79,580 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $70,683 in Lowell.

Living in Lowell vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Lowell's housing index of 152 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $429,000 vs $625,000. The $196,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,744 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Lowell compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Lowell and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Lowell 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 151 in Lowell and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $604 in Lowell 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 118 in Lowell and 106 in Roseville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $79,700 in Lowell and $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,840 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 $1,860/month to housing in Lowell vs $3,332/month in Roseville. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/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 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lowell is 5.8% more affordable overall with an index of 131 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Lowell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,580 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Lowell's housing index is 152 with median homes at $429,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases