Cost of Living in Santa Rosa, CA

An Overview of Cost of Living in Santa Rosa, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Santa Rosa is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Santa Rosa is 169, which is 69% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Santa Rosa is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Santa Rosa falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Santa Rosa cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 171.3%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Santa Rosa, these items will cost you 19.9% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Santa Rosa is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 22.5% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Santa Rosa?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 19 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Santa Rosa. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 32% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 68% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Santa Rosa Affordable?

Wondering if Santa Rosa is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Santa Rosa, for example, the median home price is 209.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 82.1% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Santa Rosa boasting a median household income of $80,472, which is 45.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Santa Rosa?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Santa Rosa, the transportation index is 31.5% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Santa Rosa, the groceries index is 22.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Santa Rosa cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.