Anaheim, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa is moderately more affordable than Anaheim, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Anaheim scores 167 compared to 158 for Santa Rosa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Anaheim can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Anaheim is $2,082/month compared to $2,084/month in Santa Rosa — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Anaheim has cheaper rent, Santa Rosa actually has lower median home values ($685,000 vs $771,700).

Median household income in Anaheim is $90,583 compared to $97,410 in Santa Rosa (-7%). Santa Rosa offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Anaheim spend roughly 27.6% of their income on rent, more than the 25.7% in Santa Rosa.