CostIndexUSA

Santa Rosa, CA vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Santa Rosa
107.8
overall index
$2,600/mo rent
More AffordableMA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Worcester is slightly cheaper than Santa Rosa — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Santa Rosa, you would need $76,100 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.1%
Santa Rosa
139.6
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries7.8%
Santa Rosa
105.2
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Santa Rosa
105.3
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+0.8%
Santa Rosa
95.3
Worcester
96.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Santa Rosa
154.8
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 107.8) = salary × 0.9508. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Home Price
$770,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,600
Housing Index
139.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Santa Rosa has 19.1% lower housing costs compared to Worcester.

Income & Job Market

Santa Rosa, CA

Median Household Income
$100,700
Per Capita Income
$57,400
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
178,127
Top Industries
HealthcareAgricultureTourismTechnologyRetail

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

Santa Rosa, CA
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Worcester, MA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.