CostIndexUSA

Saginaw, MI vs Santa Rosa, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent

Saginaw is significantly cheaper than Santa Rosa — 18.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Saginaw, you would need $94,900 in Santa Rosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+119.5%
Saginaw
63.6
Santa Rosa
139.6
🛒 Groceries+12.3%
Saginaw
93.7
Santa Rosa
105.2
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Saginaw
104.5
Santa Rosa
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Saginaw
94.6
Santa Rosa
95.3
Utilities+61.6%
Saginaw
95.8
Santa Rosa
154.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Rosa, CA
$94,900
$14,900 more needed in Santa Rosa

Formula: salary × (107.8 ÷ 90.9) = salary × 1.1859. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

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 119.5% higher housing costs compared to Saginaw.

Income & Job Market

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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).

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.