Rent vs buy in Santa Rosa, CA
In Santa Rosa, California, typical rent is $2,582 /mo and the typical home costs $708,056.
Renting comes out ahead by $45k over 7 years
The calculation uses 20% down and today's mortgage rate, with Santa Rosa's typical rent and its home value as the basis. The break-even point is year 11.
Clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Change any number, and the stamp changes with it.
- Renting is ahead by
- $45k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 11 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $5,968 /mo year 1, against $2,582 rent
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Santa Rosa's typical rent and its home value form the basis for the stamp. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Santa Rosa?
Over 7 years, renting saves $45,415 after counting the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 10 years, renting costs less. The point where owning catches up is year 11.
Rent. Buy. Net cost by year so far.
How average rent compares with mortgage payments in Santa Rosa
Using Santa Rosa's typical price, the year 1 figures show every monthly cost, including rent and mortgage payments.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,582 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,860 | $3,403 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $413 | 0.7% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $116 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $590 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,979 | $458 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,151 | Annual return on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $295 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,968 | Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two costs listed above |
The figures supporting Santa Rosa's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $708,056
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,582 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Santa Rosa
- 0.7% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Santa Rosa
- $116 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would flip the result in Santa Rosa?
Every line marks the point where Santa Rosa's 7-year result changes, while all other factors stay the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- For home price growth below 6.0% a year, we use California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 6.10%.
- A similar home rents for under $3,070 a month (the local typical rent is $2,582).
- Before year 11, you move.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 6.0% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.10% (today's is 7.24%).
- Monthly rent for that same home would exceed $3,070.
- Your stay lasts at least 11 years.
Comparing Santa Rosa with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Santa Rosa | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $708,056 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,582 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.9 (#210 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.1% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.70% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 43% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across California
- Renting wins in Los Angeles, CA, by $111k.
- Renting wins in San Diego, CA, by $108k.
- Renting wins in San Jose, CA, by $210k.
- Renting wins in San Francisco, CA, by $128k.
- Buying wins in Fresno, CA, by $22k.
- It's a toss-up in Sacramento, CA, with renting ahead by $3k.
- Renting wins in Long Beach, CA, by $111k.
- Renting wins in Oakland, CA, by $44k.
- Buying wins in Bakersfield, CA, by $11k.
- Renting wins in Anaheim, CA, by $115k.
- Buying wins in Stockton, CA, by $16k.
- Renting wins by $27k in Riverside, CA.