Santa Rosa vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Santa Rosa
Wilmington
The Verdict
Wilmington is 46.2% less expensive than Santa Rosa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Santa Rosa would need approximately $51,316 in Wilmington to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Santa Rosa has the same purchasing power as $51,316 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $109,615 in Santa Rosa.
Living in Santa Rosa vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Santa Rosa's housing index of 233 is higher Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $720,000 vs $235,000. The $485,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,524 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $900.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Santa Rosa and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Santa Rosa vs $489/month in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Santa Rosa vs $424 in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. 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 $94,300 in Santa Rosa and $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,039 and $44,731 respectively. Santa Rosa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,200/month to housing in Santa Rosa vs $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 129 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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