Cost of living index

Sacramento, CA

106.7 / 100

Living in Sacramento, CA is 6.7% more expensive than the US average — the #22 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,729/mo

Median home value: $559,000

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Sacramento, CA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
58° / 42°F
(14° / 6°C)
11 in precip
Spring
74° / 50°F
(23° / 10°C)
5.1 in precip
Summer
92° / 60°F
(33° / 16°C)
0.2 in precip
Fall
78° / 52°F
(26° / 11°C)
2.9 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, via NOAA.

The Sacramento, CA metro area has an overall price level of 106.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 6.7% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 130.2 it is 30.2% above the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#22 of 387
106.7
Goods#30 of 387
105.2
Housing rents#25 of 387
130.2
Utilities#29 of 387
151.3
Other services#56 of 387
100.3

Sacramento, CA is moved up the most by utilities, at 151.3 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

See all 25 metros in California →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Sacramento, CA an expensive place to live?

Sacramento, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 106.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 6.7% more expensive than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Sacramento, CA?

Housing rents in Sacramento, CA score 130.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 30.2% above average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Sacramento, CA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Sacramento, CA sit at 106.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 130.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.