Castro Valley, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Santa Rosa is 29% cheaper than Castro Valley. With a cost index of 158 vs 204, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Santa Rosa to Castro Valley should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Castro Valley is $2,499/month compared to $2,084/month in Santa Rosa — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Santa Rosa is more affordable at $685,000 median vs $1,058,200.

Median household income in Castro Valley is $138,069 compared to $97,410 in Santa Rosa (+41.7%). While Castro Valley is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Castro Valley spend roughly 21.7% of their income on rent, less than the 25.7% in Santa Rosa.