City Comparison

Peoria vs Santa Rosa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

Santa Rosa

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

The Verdict

50.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 50.0%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to $150,000 in Santa Rosa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
42
Peoria
233
Santa Rosa
Groceries
97
Peoria
107
Santa Rosa
Utilities
103
Peoria
135
Santa Rosa
Transportation
108
Peoria
128
Santa Rosa
Healthcare
107
Peoria
112
Santa Rosa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $150,000 in Santa Rosa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $37,500 in Peoria.

Living in Peoria vs Santa Rosa

Housing Costs

Peoria's housing index of 42 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $164,000 vs $720,000. The $556,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,144 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Peoria compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $1,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Peoria and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Peoria 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 107 in Peoria 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 $58,700 in Peoria and $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,237 and $62,039 respectively. Peoria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,370/month to housing in Peoria vs $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/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 191 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 50.0% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Peoria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $150,000 in Santa Rosa, based on the cost of living difference.
Peoria's housing index is 42 with median homes at $164,000, while Santa Rosa's is 233 with median homes at $720,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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