CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Santa Rosa, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent

Denver is slightly cheaper than Santa Rosa — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $81,500 in Santa Rosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing5.0%
Denver
146.9
Santa Rosa
139.6
🛒 Groceries+4.2%
Denver
101
Santa Rosa
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Denver
104.4
Santa Rosa
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Denver
94.5
Santa Rosa
95.3
Utilities+76.1%
Denver
87.9
Santa Rosa
154.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Santa Rosa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Rosa, CA
$81,500
$1,500 more needed in Santa Rosa

Formula: salary × (107.8 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 1.0189. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Home Price
$770,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,600
Housing Index
139.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Denver has 5.0% lower housing costs compared to Santa Rosa.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Household Income
$100,700
Per Capita Income
$57,400
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
178,127
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureTourismTechnologyRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Santa Rosa, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.