City Comparison

Santa Rosa vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Santa Rosa

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

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

94.9%

Living in Springfield costs 94.9% less than Santa Rosa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa, you would need $38,487 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
233
Santa Rosa
52
Springfield
Groceries
107
Santa Rosa
98
Springfield
Utilities
135
Santa Rosa
98
Springfield
Transportation
128
Santa Rosa
114
Springfield
Healthcare
112
Santa Rosa
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has the same purchasing power as $38,487 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $146,154 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Santa Rosa vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Santa Rosa's housing index of 233 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $162,000. The $558,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,276 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $1,175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Santa Rosa and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Santa Rosa vs $466/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Santa Rosa and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Santa Rosa vs $392 in Springfield. 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 112 in Santa Rosa and 91 in Springfield. 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 $94,300 in Santa Rosa and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,039 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,200/month to housing in Santa Rosa vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 181 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 94.9% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $38,487 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Rosa's housing index is 233 with median homes at $720,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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