City Comparison

Santa Rosa vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Santa Rosa

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

Warwick

Rhode Island
106
Above Average
$413,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$74,600
Median Income

The Verdict

43.4%

Living in Warwick costs 43.4% less than Santa Rosa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa, you would need $52,303 in Warwick.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
233
Santa Rosa
127
Warwick
Groceries
107
Santa Rosa
102
Warwick
Utilities
135
Santa Rosa
112
Warwick
Transportation
128
Santa Rosa
105
Warwick
Healthcare
112
Santa Rosa
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has the same purchasing power as $52,303 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $107,547 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Santa Rosa vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Santa Rosa's housing index of 233 is higher Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $413,000. The $307,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Santa Rosa and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Santa Rosa vs $485/month in Warwick. 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 135 in Santa Rosa and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Santa Rosa vs $448 in Warwick. 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 103 in Warwick. 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 $94,300 in Santa Rosa and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,039 and $70,377 respectively. Warwick 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 $1,741/month in Warwick. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo fits within this budget. In Warwick, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 106 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warwick is 43.4% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 152.
A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $52,303 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Santa Rosa's housing index is 233 with median homes at $720,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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