City Comparison

Roseville vs Santa Rosa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roseville

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

Santa Rosa

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

The Verdict

8.6%

Living in Roseville costs 8.6% less than Santa Rosa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Roseville, you would need $82,014 in Santa Rosa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
179
Roseville
233
Santa Rosa
Groceries
105
Roseville
107
Santa Rosa
Utilities
163
Roseville
135
Santa Rosa
Transportation
134
Roseville
128
Santa Rosa
Healthcare
106
Roseville
112
Santa Rosa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roseville has the same purchasing power as $82,014 in Santa Rosa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $68,586 in Roseville.

Living in Roseville vs Santa Rosa

Housing Costs

Roseville's housing index of 179 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $625,000 vs $720,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Roseville compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Roseville and 107 in Santa Rosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Roseville vs $508/month in Santa Rosa. 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 163 in Roseville and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $652 in Roseville 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 106 in Roseville 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 $142,800 in Roseville and $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $102,734 and $62,039 respectively. Roseville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,332/month to housing in Roseville vs $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/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 54 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roseville is 8.6% more affordable overall with an index of 139 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,014 in Santa Rosa, based on the cost of living difference.
Roseville's housing index is 179 with median homes at $625,000, while Santa Rosa's is 233 with median homes at $720,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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