Moving from Santa Rosa, CA to San Francisco, CA
Moving from Santa Rosa, CA to San Francisco, CA covers 56 mi and about 1h 35m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully — the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.
56 mi · 1h 35m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | US 101, CA 116, CA 1 |
| Major cities en route | Richmond, Berkeley, Vallejo |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Santa Rosa | San Francisco | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 107.784 | 115.613 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 154.777 | 172.585 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 105.168 | 108.465 | 100.0 |
| Services | 139.569 | 194.718 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in San Francisco is 7.3% higher than Santa Rosa, per BEA Regional Price Parities (2024).
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home value in San Francisco is 7.3% above Santa Rosa — $718,726 vs $1,356,662 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03). Budget the mortgage math early.
YoY change: Santa Rosa -2.2%, San Francisco +5.0%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Santa Rosa | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 59°F | 56°F |
| January avg low | 38°F | 46°F |
| July avg high | 82°F | 62°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 31.5" | 20.6" |
Annual average temperatures in Santa Rosa (59.0°F) and San Francisco (56.2°F) stay within 5°F of each other (NOAA normals).
San Francisco gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SANTA ROSA, CA US, SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Santa Rosa | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 177,216 | 836,321 |
| Median household income | $97,410 | $141,446 |
| Median age | 40.5 | 39.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 35.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.6 | 2.31 |
Median household income in San Francisco is 7.3% above Santa Rosa ($97,410 vs $141,446, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in San Francisco MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 244,380 | $59,630 |
| Management Occupations | 237,070 | $171,350 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 211,250 | $104,950 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 194,040 | $39,200 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 183,930 | $49,390 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does household income compare in Santa Rosa vs San Francisco?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $141,446 in San Francisco vs $97,410 in Santa Rosa — a 45.2% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How does the job market in San Francisco compare to Santa Rosa?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $72,050 in the San Francisco MSA vs $51,670 in the Santa Rosa MSA, on total employment of 2,422,210 and 206,310 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How far is San Francisco, CA from Santa Rosa, CA?
The driving distance is 56 mi and the route typically takes 1h 35m via US 101 and CA 116. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is San Francisco more expensive than Santa Rosa?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Francisco is 7.3% higher than Santa Rosa (115.613 vs 107.784, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
When is the best time to move from Santa Rosa to San Francisco?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 56 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How much do homes cost in San Francisco compared to Santa Rosa?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $1,356,662 in San Francisco vs $718,726 in Santa Rosa — a 88.8% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between Santa Rosa and San Francisco?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 56.2°F in San Francisco vs 59.0°F in Santa Rosa (2.8°F colder). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 20.6 in vs 31.5 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Santa Rosa.
City profiles: Santa Rosa, CA · San Francisco, CA.