CostIndexUSA

Flint, MI vs Santa Rosa, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent
CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent

Flint is significantly cheaper than Santa Rosa — 15.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Flint, you would need $92,700 in Santa Rosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+88.6%
Flint
74
Santa Rosa
139.6
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Flint
93.7
Santa Rosa
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Flint
104.5
Santa Rosa
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Flint
94.6
Santa Rosa
95.3
Utilities+59.4%
Flint
97.1
Santa Rosa
154.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Rosa, CA
$92,700
$12,700 more needed in Santa Rosa

Formula: salary × (107.8 ÷ 93) = salary × 1.1591. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Santa Rosa, CA

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

Santa Rosa has 88.6% higher housing costs compared to Flint.

Income & Job Market

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

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).

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.