Ontario, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Santa Rosa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 39.3% higher than Ontario, CA.

Ontario, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,580 / month
Santa Rosa, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,875 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Ontario, CA and Santa Rosa, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Ontario, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,467/month in Santa Rosa, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $179,606 in Santa Rosa, CA

Regional cost estimates: Ontario, CA uses Fontana, CA. Santa Rosa, CA uses San Francisco, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 39.3%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,467

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$29.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Ontario, CA

Population:182K

Cost Index:

119.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$672K

Santa Rosa, CA

Population:176K

Cost Index:

165.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$713K

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Ontario, CA

The Golden State

182K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 182K residents.

Santa Rosa, CA

The Golden State

176K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 176K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ontario, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Ontario, CA	Santa Rosa, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,847/mo	$5,711/mo	↑ $2,863more	100.6%
Transportation	$1,665/mo	$1,402/mo	↓ $264less	15.8%
All Utilities	$430/mo	$317/mo	↓ $113less	26.2%
Other	$1,330/mo	$1,217/mo	↓ $113less	8.5%
Healthcare	$425/mo	$500/mo	↑ $74.50more	17.5%
Groceries	$802/mo	$820/mo	↑ $18.65more	2.3%

Housing

↑ 100.6%

Ontario, CA

$2,847

Santa Rosa, CA

$5,711

Difference

$2,863

Transportation

↓ 15.8%

Ontario, CA

$1,665

Santa Rosa, CA

$1,402

Difference

$264

less

All Utilities

↓ 26.2%

Ontario, CA

$430

Santa Rosa, CA

$317

Difference

$113

less

Other

↓ 8.5%

Ontario, CA

$1,330

Santa Rosa, CA

$1,217

Difference

$113

less

Healthcare

↑ 17.5%

Ontario, CA

$425

Santa Rosa, CA

$500

Difference

$74.50

Groceries

↑ 2.3%

Ontario, CA

$802

Santa Rosa, CA

$820

Difference

$18.65

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,980

To$1,985

↑ $5.00

1 Bed

From$2,080

To$2,190

↑ $110

2 Bed

From$2,580

To$2,875

↑ $295

3 Bed

From$3,410

To$3,950

↑ $540

Ontario, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,980–$2,240/mo

Santa Rosa, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,940–$2,470/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Ontario, CA

$9,967

Monthly in Santa Rosa, CA

$2,467

Difference

Home Values

Ontario

Santa Rosa

$672K

Median Value

$713K

↓ -1.9%

YoY Change

↓ -2.8%

↑ +34.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +12.2%

$623K - $683K

Price Range

$620K - $797K

Homes in Santa Rosa are 6% more expensive than Ontario

Calculate payment - Ontario Calculate payment - Santa Rosa

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Ontario, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Santa Rosa, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Ontario, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Santa Rosa, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Ontario

Santa Rosa

87 Moderate

Air Quality

33 Good

10.9%

Good Air Days

76%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🫨

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

82 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

82 days

Heat Days >95°F

1 days

Before moving from Ontario, CA to Santa Rosa, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Santa Rosa, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ontario, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Ontario to Santa Rosa moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Santa Rosa, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ontario, CA vs Santa Rosa, CA

How do the cost estimates for Ontario, CA and Santa Rosa, CA compare?

Santa Rosa, CA has a modeled overall cost index 39.3% higher than Ontario, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Ontario, CA, the model estimates $179,606 in Santa Rosa, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Ontario, CA and Santa Rosa, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,580/month in Ontario, CA and $2,875/month in Santa Rosa, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.