Honolulu, HI vs Santa Rosa, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Santa Rosa, CA is 2.9% less expensive than Honolulu, HI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Honolulu works out to about $72,900 in Santa Rosa, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 5.7% lower and other services 2.6% lower in Santa Rosa, while housing is 3.0% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 17.3% lower in Santa Rosa.
- Typical asking rent is $2,666 a month in Santa Rosa and $3,015 in Honolulu, $4,188 a year less in Santa Rosa (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $783,000 in Santa Rosa and $856,000 in Honolulu.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Honolulu and Santa Rosa
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
All items Honolulu, HI: 111.0 Santa Rosa, CA: 107.8
Goods Honolulu, HI: 111.6 Santa Rosa, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Honolulu, HI: 135.5 Santa Rosa, CA: 139.6
Utilities Honolulu, HI: 187.3 Santa Rosa, CA: 154.8
Other services Honolulu, HI: 102.9 Santa Rosa, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.0 | 107.8 |
| Goods | 111.6 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 135.5 | 139.6 |
| Utilities | 187.3 | 154.8 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 100.3 |
| Category | Honolulu | Santa Rosa | Santa Rosa vs Honolulu |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 111.0 | 107.8 | −2.9% |
| Goods | 111.6 | 105.2 | −5.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 135.5 | 139.6 | +3.0% |
| Utilities | 187.3 | 154.8 | −17.3% |
| Other services | 102.9 | 100.3 | −2.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,015 | $2,666 | −11.6% |
| Typical home value | $856,000 | $783,000 | −8.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Honolulu | $75,000 | $72,900 | −2.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Honolulu and Santa Rosa has narrowed since 2008: 6.2 points then, 3.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.9 | 118.1 |
| 2009 | 117.6 | 113.5 |
| 2010 | 112.4 | 113.7 |
| 2011 | 113.1 | 110.4 |
| 2012 | 112.4 | 112.3 |
| 2013 | 115.7 | 111.5 |
| 2014 | 114.6 | 113.2 |
| 2015 | 114.0 | 114.6 |
| 2016 | 113.4 | 115.1 |
| 2017 | 113.6 | 120.3 |
| 2018 | 112.8 | 113.1 |
| 2019 | 113.2 | 111.5 |
| 2020 | 115.7 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 114.1 | 109.9 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 112.5 |
| 2023 | 111.4 | 110.3 |
| 2024 | 111.0 | 107.8 |
Goods
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.4 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 112.3 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 112.3 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 109.8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 114.8 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 114.2 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 113.6 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 115.7 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 117.6 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 116.6 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 115.3 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 112.4 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 110.1 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 112.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 110.3 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 111.6 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 166.3 | 163.0 |
| 2009 | 175.2 | 157.7 |
| 2010 | 160.8 | 162.2 |
| 2011 | 162.0 | 151.0 |
| 2012 | 165.4 | 164.3 |
| 2013 | 171.5 | 153.5 |
| 2014 | 173.0 | 166.3 |
| 2015 | 176.5 | 165.9 |
| 2016 | 158.3 | 165.8 |
| 2017 | 174.1 | 172.2 |
| 2018 | 162.3 | 175.4 |
| 2019 | 158.0 | 177.1 |
| 2020 | 159.0 | 176.0 |
| 2021 | 155.3 | 170.6 |
| 2022 | 148.6 | 158.2 |
| 2023 | 143.4 | 146.5 |
| 2024 | 135.5 | 139.6 |
Utilities
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 266.0 | 115.4 |
| 2009 | 219.0 | 114.9 |
| 2010 | 161.1 | 117.5 |
| 2011 | 222.2 | 112.6 |
| 2012 | 218.6 | 109.3 |
| 2013 | 225.5 | 129.4 |
| 2014 | 206.8 | 134.6 |
| 2015 | 186.6 | 142.4 |
| 2016 | 171.0 | 144.4 |
| 2017 | 175.7 | 149.9 |
| 2018 | 191.1 | 121.1 |
| 2019 | 200.7 | 128.8 |
| 2020 | 187.1 | 132.1 |
| 2021 | 178.0 | 141.3 |
| 2022 | 191.8 | 145.6 |
| 2023 | 190.3 | 140.5 |
| 2024 | 187.3 | 154.8 |
Other services
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.2 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 104.9 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 99.7 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 99.5 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 100.0 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 97.6 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 100.2 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 104.0 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 104.4 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 102.8 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 102.1 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 102.9 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,666 in Santa Rosa vs $3,015 in Honolulu
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,001 | $1,620 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,031 | $1,658 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,046 | $1,700 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,060 | $1,734 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,054 | $1,803 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,079 | $1,832 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,069 | $1,836 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,060 | $1,825 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,098 | $1,871 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,116 | $1,921 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,114 | $1,939 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,125 | $2,014 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,134 | $2,058 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,152 | $2,067 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,158 | $2,060 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,159 | $2,069 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,188 | $2,045 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,196 | $2,084 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,222 | $2,069 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,216 | $2,061 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,227 | $2,087 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,204 | $2,098 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,211 | $2,109 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,233 | $2,121 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,287 | $2,134 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,361 | $2,207 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,453 | $2,283 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,464 | $2,288 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,516 | $2,361 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,540 | $2,426 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,566 | $2,422 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,562 | $2,401 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,608 | $2,421 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,635 | $2,474 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,650 | $2,495 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,654 | $2,481 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,700 | $2,489 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,738 | $2,526 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,763 | $2,519 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,792 | $2,528 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,808 | $2,553 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,872 | $2,567 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,897 | $2,565 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,915 | $2,550 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,947 | $2,586 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,015 | $2,639 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,015 | $2,666 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $783,000 in Santa Rosa vs $856,000 in Honolulu
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Honolulu, HI
- Santa Rosa, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Honolulu, HI | Santa Rosa, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $547K | $497K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $550K | $511K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $560K | $524K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $568K | $542K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $577K | $556K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $583K | $561K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $594K | $568K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $606K | $577K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $615K | $588K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $623K | $599K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $630K | $608K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $640K | $623K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $648K | $647K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $656K | $667K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $661K | $669K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $661K | $662K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $660K | $657K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $662K | $656K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $660K | $655K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $660K | $656K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $665K | $663K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $666K | $661K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $670K | $663K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $689K | $685K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $710K | $709K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $745K | $741K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $765K | $750K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $785K | $751K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $845K | $784K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $881K | $810K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $870K | $792K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $856K | $781K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $838K | $774K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $845K | $785K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $848K | $796K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $845K | $796K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $845K | $797K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $851K | $807K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $849K | $805K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $852K | $804K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $848K | $799K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $838K | $789K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $834K | $777K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $843K | $781K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $848K | $781K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $846K | $777K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $856K | $783K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.