Cost of Living in Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Santa Rosa, CA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Santa Rosa, CA?
With a price level of 107.8 (U.S. average = 100), Santa Rosa, CA is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 40% above average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 55% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Santa Rosa, CA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.8 | +7.8% |
| Housing | 139.6 | +39.6% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 154.8 | +54.8% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Santa Rosa, CA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,949 | $77,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $2,155 | $86,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,827 | $113,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,887 | $155,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,147 | $165,880/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Santa Rosa, CA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Santa Rosa, CA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $43,100 | $35,537 |
| $60,000 | $64,700 | $51,362 |
| $80,000 | $86,200 | $64,564 |
| $100,000 | $107,800 | $77,470 |
| $150,000 | $161,700 | $108,877 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, California 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Santa Rosa, CA's median wage of $56,850 takes home about $3,805 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $2,155, which is 57% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,650 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Santa Rosa, CA
- Federal income tax$4,642
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,525
- Medicare (1.45%)$824
- California income tax$1,460
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$739
- Take-home pay$45,659
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Santa Rosa, CA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| General and Operations Manager | $109,970 | $78,767 | $73,078 |
| Office Clerks, General | $51,780 | $41,956 | $38,926 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker | $46,740 | $38,269 | $35,505 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,640 | $38,194 | $35,436 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $40,650 | $33,698 | $31,265 |
| Retail Salesperson | $39,570 | $32,888 | $30,513 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $39,210 | $32,618 | $30,262 |
| Cashier | $38,440 | $32,040 | $29,726 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $36,850 | $30,847 | $28,619 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,830 | $30,832 | $28,605 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in California cities
Half of California’s 18,213,700 workers earn less than $58,240 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $41,600–$97,880 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: San Jose, CA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Salinas, CA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,850 | 113.6 | $2,245 | 60% | $1,499 | $39,562 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,260 | 115.6 | $2,620 | 55% | $2,161 | $49,629 |
| Riverside, CA | $48,400 | 106.4 | $1,777 | 54% | $1,514 | $37,097 |
| San Diego, CA | $58,690 | 111.9 | $2,459 | 63% | $1,458 | $42,010 |
| San Jose, CA | $84,050 | 110.4 | $2,957 | 56% | $2,316 | $57,306 |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,750 | 106.7 | $1,812 | 46% | $2,169 | $44,790 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,910 | 102.2 | $1,315 | 41% | $1,885 | $37,586 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,470 | 100.9 | $1,140 | 35% | $2,094 | $38,467 |
| Oxnard, CA | $52,510 | 110.5 | $2,250 | 64% | $1,291 | $38,440 |
| Stockton, CA | $48,990 | 105.1 | $1,395 | 42% | $1,931 | $37,985 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $56,850 | 107.8 | $2,155 | 57% | $1,650 | $42,362 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $51,690 | 108.8 | $2,746 | 79% | $745 | $38,503 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,610 | 104.1 | $1,356 | 40% | $2,069 | $39,479 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,380 | 109.0 | $2,232 | 69% | $996 | $35,529 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,130 | 99.8 | $1,123 | 36% | $1,965 | $37,126 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Santa Rosa, CA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA | 107.8 | $2,155 | $56,850 | 205,260 |
| Springfield, MA | 96.1 | $1,382 | $51,930 | 201,240 |
| Manchester, NH | 105.7 | $1,596 | $56,530 | 199,560 |
| Savannah, GA | 95.2 | $1,533 | $47,240 | 198,360 |
| Lansing, MI | 95.0 | $1,012 | $52,800 | 217,180 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 92.7 | $1,115 | $45,350 | 192,580 |
| Boulder, CO | 105.2 | $1,795 | $69,580 | 192,390 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Santa Rosa, CA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area are 107.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 139.6%. It is the #20 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Santa Rosa, CA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $64,670 in Santa Rosa, CA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $56,850.
Can you afford Santa Rosa, CA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $56,850 median wage takes home about $3,805 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $2,155 would take 57% of that.
How much is rent in Santa Rosa, CA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Santa Rosa, CA are $1,949 for a studio, $2,155 for one bedroom, $2,827 for two bedrooms and $3,887 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Santa Rosa, CA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $109,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $174,550
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $36,850
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $43,610
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,830
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $46,740
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $39,210
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $39,570
- Cashier — $38,440
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $51,780
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,640
- Stocker and Order Filler — $40,650