Santa Rosa, CA vs San Luis Obispo, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in San Luis Obispo, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Santa Rosa works out to about $75,600 in San Luis Obispo, before taxes.
- Housing is 3.4% higher in San Luis Obispo, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $2,802 a month in San Luis Obispo and $2,666 in Santa Rosa, $1,632 a year more in San Luis Obispo (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $898,000 in San Luis Obispo and $783,000 in Santa Rosa.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.2%).
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.
Overall prices are about the same in Santa Rosa and San Luis Obispo
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
All items Santa Rosa, CA: 107.8 San Luis Obispo, CA: 108.6
Goods Santa Rosa, CA: 105.2 San Luis Obispo, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Santa Rosa, CA: 139.6 San Luis Obispo, CA: 144.4
Utilities Santa Rosa, CA: 154.8 San Luis Obispo, CA: 147.8
Other services Santa Rosa, CA: 100.3 San Luis Obispo, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.8 | 108.6 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 139.6 | 144.4 |
| Utilities | 154.8 | 147.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Santa Rosa | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo vs Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 107.8 | 108.6 | +0.8% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 139.6 | 144.4 | +3.4% |
| Utilities | 154.8 | 147.8 | −4.5% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,666 | $2,802 | +5.1% |
| Typical home value | $783,000 | $898,000 | +14.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Santa Rosa | $75,000 | $75,600 | +0.8% |
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 Santa Rosa and San Luis Obispo has narrowed since 2008: 13.0 points then, 0.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 118.1 | 105.1 |
| 2009 | 113.5 | 109.2 |
| 2010 | 113.7 | 106.5 |
| 2011 | 110.4 | 109.7 |
| 2012 | 112.3 | 107.2 |
| 2013 | 111.5 | 106.6 |
| 2014 | 113.2 | 106.1 |
| 2015 | 114.6 | 105.3 |
| 2016 | 115.1 | 105.0 |
| 2017 | 120.3 | 108.3 |
| 2018 | 113.1 | 111.3 |
| 2019 | 111.5 | 110.2 |
| 2020 | 111.4 | 111.3 |
| 2021 | 109.9 | 108.6 |
| 2022 | 112.5 | 112.7 |
| 2023 | 110.3 | 111.0 |
| 2024 | 107.8 | 108.6 |
Goods
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 99.8 |
| 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)
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 163.0 | 155.4 |
| 2009 | 157.7 | 157.5 |
| 2010 | 162.2 | 150.6 |
| 2011 | 151.0 | 154.0 |
| 2012 | 164.3 | 143.5 |
| 2013 | 153.5 | 147.1 |
| 2014 | 166.3 | 142.8 |
| 2015 | 165.9 | 149.6 |
| 2016 | 165.8 | 153.9 |
| 2017 | 172.2 | 165.2 |
| 2018 | 175.4 | 154.8 |
| 2019 | 177.1 | 151.5 |
| 2020 | 176.0 | 164.4 |
| 2021 | 170.6 | 146.9 |
| 2022 | 158.2 | 157.1 |
| 2023 | 146.5 | 149.5 |
| 2024 | 139.6 | 144.4 |
Utilities
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.4 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 114.9 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 117.5 | 107.8 |
| 2011 | 112.6 | 110.9 |
| 2012 | 109.3 | 114.1 |
| 2013 | 129.4 | 111.5 |
| 2014 | 134.6 | 119.2 |
| 2015 | 142.4 | 119.7 |
| 2016 | 144.4 | 113.1 |
| 2017 | 149.9 | 108.9 |
| 2018 | 121.1 | 118.5 |
| 2019 | 128.8 | 125.9 |
| 2020 | 132.1 | 128.0 |
| 2021 | 141.3 | 137.3 |
| 2022 | 145.6 | 141.6 |
| 2023 | 140.5 | 133.6 |
| 2024 | 154.8 | 147.8 |
Other services
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 99.2 |
| 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: $2,802 in San Luis Obispo vs $2,666 in Santa Rosa
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,620 | $1,473 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,658 | $1,554 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,700 | $1,603 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,734 | $1,558 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,803 | $1,615 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,832 | $1,639 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,836 | $1,685 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,825 | $1,691 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,871 | $1,735 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,921 | $1,745 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,939 | $1,747 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,014 | $1,785 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,058 | $1,781 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,067 | $1,811 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,060 | $1,840 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,069 | $1,854 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,045 | $1,871 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,084 | $1,890 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,069 | $1,875 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,061 | $1,903 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,087 | $1,941 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,098 | $1,913 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,109 | $1,966 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,121 | $2,024 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,134 | $2,045 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,207 | $2,069 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,283 | $2,146 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,288 | $2,207 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,361 | $2,271 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,426 | $2,335 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,422 | $2,393 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,401 | $2,338 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,421 | $2,416 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,474 | $2,490 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,495 | $2,492 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,481 | $2,534 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,489 | $2,583 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,526 | $2,588 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,519 | $2,609 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,528 | $2,659 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,553 | $2,702 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,567 | $2,723 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,565 | $2,724 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,550 | $2,721 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,586 | $2,787 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,639 | $2,768 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,666 | $2,802 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $898,000 in San Luis Obispo vs $783,000 in Santa Rosa
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Santa Rosa, CA
- San Luis Obispo, 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
| Santa Rosa, CA | San Luis Obispo, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $497K | $478K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $511K | $487K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $524K | $483K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $542K | $473K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $556K | $491K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $561K | $511K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $568K | $522K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $577K | $539K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $588K | $558K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $599K | $561K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $608K | $565K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $623K | $580K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $647K | $593K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $667K | $591K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $669K | $596K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $662K | $602K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $657K | $601K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $656K | $600K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $655K | $602K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $656K | $612K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $663K | $620K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $661K | $619K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $663K | $625K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $685K | $658K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $709K | $681K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $741K | $712K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $750K | $732K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $751K | $753K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $784K | $798K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $810K | $837K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $792K | $827K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $781K | $819K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $774K | $807K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $785K | $822K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $796K | $848K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $796K | $860K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $797K | $858K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $807K | $870K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $805K | $872K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $804K | $876K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $799K | $878K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $789K | $878K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $777K | $880K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $781K | $889K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $781K | $889K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $777K | $890K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $783K | $898K | $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.