Santa Ana, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Ana, CA and Santa Rosa, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Santa Ana scores 154 while Santa Rosa scores 158 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Santa Ana is $1,975/month compared to $2,084/month in Santa Rosa — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Santa Ana is more affordable at $657,800 median vs $685,000.

Median household income in Santa Ana is $88,354 compared to $97,410 in Santa Rosa (-9.3%). While Santa Rosa is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Santa Ana spend roughly 26.8% of their income on rent, more than the 25.7% in Santa Rosa.

Climate-wise, Santa Ana is notably warmer with an average of 64.9°F compared to 58.1°F in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 11.2" in Santa Ana.