City Comparison

Ogden vs Santa Rosa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Ogden

Utah
107
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

Santa Rosa

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

The Verdict

29.6%

Ogden is 29.6% less expensive than Santa Rosa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ogden would need approximately $106,542 in Santa Rosa to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
112
Ogden
233
Santa Rosa
Groceries
92
Ogden
107
Santa Rosa
Utilities
80
Ogden
135
Santa Rosa
Transportation
101
Ogden
128
Santa Rosa
Healthcare
91
Ogden
112
Santa Rosa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Ogden has the same purchasing power as $106,542 in Santa Rosa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $52,796 in Ogden.

Living in Ogden vs Santa Rosa

Housing Costs

Ogden's housing index of 112 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $720,000. The $335,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,780 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Ogden compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 92 in Ogden and 107 in Santa Rosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Ogden vs $508/month in Santa Rosa. Ogden offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 80 in Ogden and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $320 in Ogden 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 91 in Ogden and 112 in Santa Rosa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $70,100 in Ogden and $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,514 and $62,039 respectively. Ogden residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,636/month to housing in Ogden vs $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/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 121 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ogden is 29.6% more affordable overall with an index of 107 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Ogden has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $106,542 in Santa Rosa, based on the cost of living difference.
Ogden's housing index is 112 with median homes at $385,000, while Santa Rosa's is 233 with median homes at $720,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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