Salinas, CA 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 1.2% less expensive than Salinas, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Salinas works out to about $74,100 in Santa Rosa, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 4.2% less in Santa Rosa. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,666 a month in Santa Rosa and $2,771 in Salinas, $1,260 a year less in Santa Rosa (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $783,000 in Santa Rosa and $841,000 in Salinas.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.0%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 4.2% lower in Santa Rosa than in Salinas
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
All items Salinas, CA: 109.0 Santa Rosa, CA: 107.8
Goods Salinas, CA: 105.2 Santa Rosa, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Salinas, CA: 145.7 Santa Rosa, CA: 139.6
Utilities Salinas, CA: 154.2 Santa Rosa, CA: 154.8
Other services Salinas, CA: 100.3 Santa Rosa, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 107.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 139.6 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 154.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Salinas | Santa Rosa | Santa Rosa vs Salinas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 109.0 | 107.8 | −1.2% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 145.7 | 139.6 | −4.2% |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 154.8 | +0.4% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,771 | $2,666 | −3.8% |
| Typical home value | $841,000 | $783,000 | −6.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Salinas | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.2% |
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 Salinas and Santa Rosa has narrowed since 2008: 13.4 points then, 1.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Salinas, CA
- 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
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 118.1 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 113.5 |
| 2010 | 106.8 | 113.7 |
| 2011 | 109.4 | 110.4 |
| 2012 | 110.1 | 112.3 |
| 2013 | 108.9 | 111.5 |
| 2014 | 106.6 | 113.2 |
| 2015 | 106.0 | 114.6 |
| 2016 | 104.8 | 115.1 |
| 2017 | 107.8 | 120.3 |
| 2018 | 112.1 | 113.1 |
| 2019 | 111.5 | 111.5 |
| 2020 | 110.3 | 111.4 |
| 2021 | 109.3 | 109.9 |
| 2022 | 113.1 | 112.5 |
| 2023 | 113.2 | 110.3 |
| 2024 | 109.0 | 107.8 |
Goods
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 158.2 | 163.0 |
| 2009 | 149.0 | 157.7 |
| 2010 | 159.4 | 162.2 |
| 2011 | 159.3 | 151.0 |
| 2012 | 163.3 | 164.3 |
| 2013 | 166.7 | 153.5 |
| 2014 | 151.0 | 166.3 |
| 2015 | 161.6 | 165.9 |
| 2016 | 155.0 | 165.8 |
| 2017 | 164.9 | 172.2 |
| 2018 | 164.4 | 175.4 |
| 2019 | 168.6 | 177.1 |
| 2020 | 164.6 | 176.0 |
| 2021 | 159.5 | 170.6 |
| 2022 | 159.5 | 158.2 |
| 2023 | 166.6 | 146.5 |
| 2024 | 145.7 | 139.6 |
Utilities
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 115.4 |
| 2009 | 96.4 | 114.9 |
| 2010 | 110.4 | 117.5 |
| 2011 | 112.8 | 112.6 |
| 2012 | 116.1 | 109.3 |
| 2013 | 115.3 | 129.4 |
| 2014 | 121.2 | 134.6 |
| 2015 | 121.3 | 142.4 |
| 2016 | 115.5 | 144.4 |
| 2017 | 110.4 | 149.9 |
| 2018 | 120.2 | 121.1 |
| 2019 | 128.6 | 128.8 |
| 2020 | 130.6 | 132.1 |
| 2021 | 140.8 | 141.3 |
| 2022 | 144.7 | 145.6 |
| 2023 | 138.4 | 140.5 |
| 2024 | 154.2 | 154.8 |
Other services
- Salinas, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,666 in Santa Rosa vs $2,771 in Salinas
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- 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
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,515 | $1,620 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,551 | $1,658 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,550 | $1,700 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,637 | $1,734 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,647 | $1,803 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,713 | $1,832 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,733 | $1,836 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,717 | $1,825 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,790 | $1,871 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,829 | $1,921 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,834 | $1,939 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,855 | $2,014 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,882 | $2,058 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,936 | $2,067 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,964 | $2,060 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,936 | $2,069 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,964 | $2,045 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,013 | $2,084 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,058 | $2,069 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,040 | $2,061 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,043 | $2,087 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,048 | $2,098 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,111 | $2,109 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,152 | $2,121 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,155 | $2,134 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,205 | $2,207 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,337 | $2,283 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,337 | $2,288 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,360 | $2,361 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,447 | $2,426 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,458 | $2,422 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,482 | $2,401 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,517 | $2,421 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,526 | $2,474 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,583 | $2,495 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,532 | $2,481 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,602 | $2,489 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,614 | $2,526 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,667 | $2,519 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,709 | $2,528 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,787 | $2,553 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,744 | $2,567 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,750 | $2,565 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,743 | $2,550 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,790 | $2,586 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,909 | $2,639 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,771 | $2,666 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $783,000 in Santa Rosa vs $841,000 in Salinas
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Salinas, CA
- 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
| Salinas, CA | Santa Rosa, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $430K | $497K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $439K | $511K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $448K | $524K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $464K | $542K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $478K | $556K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $482K | $561K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $487K | $568K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $499K | $577K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $512K | $588K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $519K | $599K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $526K | $608K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $535K | $623K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $545K | $647K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $553K | $667K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $558K | $669K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $567K | $662K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $573K | $657K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $578K | $656K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $581K | $655K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $587K | $656K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $597K | $663K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $606K | $661K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $618K | $663K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $649K | $685K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $679K | $709K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $718K | $741K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $740K | $750K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $755K | $751K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $797K | $784K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $830K | $810K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $811K | $792K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $793K | $781K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $781K | $774K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $795K | $785K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $815K | $796K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $825K | $796K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $828K | $797K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $843K | $807K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $847K | $805K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $849K | $804K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $846K | $799K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $836K | $789K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $831K | $777K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $832K | $781K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $831K | $781K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $834K | $777K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $841K | $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.