CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs Santa Rosa, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent

Palm Bay is moderately cheaper than Santa Rosa — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $86,200 in Santa Rosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+25.0%
Palm Bay
111.7
Santa Rosa
139.6
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Palm Bay
96.2
Santa Rosa
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Palm Bay
103.8
Santa Rosa
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Palm Bay
93.9
Santa Rosa
95.3
Utilities+75.7%
Palm Bay
88.1
Santa Rosa
154.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Rosa, CA
$86,200
$6,200 more needed in Santa Rosa

Formula: salary × (107.8 ÷ 100) = salary × 1.0780. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

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 25.0% higher housing costs compared to Palm Bay.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

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).

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.