CostIndexUSA

Rochester, MN vs San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent
CA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Rochester is significantly cheaper than San Bernardino — 17.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $93,700 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+64.5%
Rochester
78.6
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries+6.3%
Rochester
95.4
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation+9.8%
Rochester
96.8
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+9.8%
Rochester
87.6
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities+70.0%
Rochester
87.4
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Rochester to see what you'd need to earn in San Bernardino to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$93,700
$13,700 more needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 1.1718. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

San Bernardino has 64.5% higher housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.