What is the cost of living in Sacramento, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sacramento has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Sacramento has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Sacramento ranks as #208 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Sacramento ranks as the #426 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Sacramento, check out:
Sacramento Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sacramento. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sacramento is 109.
The Groceries index in Sacramento is 122.
The Health index in Sacramento is 184.
The Housing index in Sacramento is 124.
The Transportation index in Sacramento is 121.
The Utilities index in Sacramento is 122.
| Living Expense | Sacramento | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 122 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 184 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Sacramento Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Sacramento Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sacramento, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Sacramento is $479,765.
The Median Rent in Sacramento is $1,779.
The Median Income in Sacramento is $87,321.
The Home Value To Income in Sacramento is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sacramento is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Sacramento | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $479,765 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,779 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,321 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Sacramento, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Sacramento Services costs vs. California
| Item | Sacramento | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $40.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.53 | $45.56 |
Detailed Sacramento Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Sacramento | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.56 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.06 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.93 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.69 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.98 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Sacramento Health costs vs. California
| Item | Sacramento | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sacramento Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Sacramento | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sacramento Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Sacramento | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Sacramento SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sacramento
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sacramento. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Arden-Arcade, CA has a cost of living index of 135, 1.0x Sacramento.
Citrus Heights, CA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.0x Sacramento.
Folsom, CA has a cost of living index of 163, 1.2x Sacramento.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sacramento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arden-Arcade, CA | 94,994 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Citrus Heights, CA | 86,995 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Folsom, CA | 83,916 | 163 | 1.2x |
| Davis, CA | 66,978 | 177 | 1.3x |
| West Sacramento, CA | 54,927 | 135 | 1.0x |
| Florin, CA | 50,211 | 123 | 0.9x |
| Antelope, CA | 48,301 | 138 | 1.0x |
| Vineyard, CA | 43,751 | 139 | 1.0x |
| Orangevale, CA | 35,958 | 140 | 1.0x |
| Fair Oaks, CA | 32,799 | 152 | 1.1x |
