City Comparison

Oxnard vs Rochester

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Oxnard

California
154
Very Expensive
$653,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$96,200
Median Income

Rochester

Minnesota
94
Below Average
$345,000
Median Home
$1,275/mo
Median Rent
$91,500
Median Income

The Verdict

63.8%

Rochester is 63.8% less expensive than Oxnard overall. A household earning $75,000 in Oxnard would need approximately $45,779 in Rochester to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
253
Oxnard
95
Rochester
Groceries
112
Oxnard
103
Rochester
Utilities
107
Oxnard
102
Rochester
Transportation
135
Oxnard
102
Rochester
Healthcare
113
Oxnard
104
Rochester

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Oxnard has the same purchasing power as $45,779 in Rochester.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rochester equals $122,872 in Oxnard.

Living in Oxnard vs Rochester

Housing Costs

Oxnard's housing index of 253 is higher Rochester's 95, translating to median home prices of $653,000 vs $345,000. The $308,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Oxnard compared to $1,275/mo in Rochester, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Oxnard and 103 in Rochester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Oxnard vs $489/month in Rochester. Rochester offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Oxnard and 102 in Rochester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Oxnard vs $408 in Rochester. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 113 in Oxnard and 104 in Rochester. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $96,200 in Oxnard and $91,500 in Rochester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,468 and $97,340 respectively. Rochester residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,245/month to housing in Oxnard vs $2,135/month in Rochester. In Oxnard, median rent of $1,925/mo fits within this budget. In Rochester, median rent of $1,275/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 158 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rochester is 63.8% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 154.
A $75,000 salary in Oxnard has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $45,779 in Rochester, based on the cost of living difference.
Oxnard's housing index is 253 with median homes at $653,000, while Rochester's is 95 with median homes at $345,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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