Cost of Living in Sacramento, California (2026)
COL Index
127
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$2,000
per month
Median HHI
$68K
per year
State Tax
9.3%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Sacramento |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,600 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,000 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,600 |
| Median home price | $480K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 106 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $16 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $65 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $100 |
| Gas price/gal | $4.40 |
| Car insurance/moCompare rates → | $155 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $150 |
| Internet/mo | $65 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $68K |
| State income tax rate | 9.3% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 8.8% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 127 |
| Walk score / 100 | 47 |
Is Sacramento affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,418/mo take-home
83% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$2,773/mo take-home
72% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,328/mo take-home
60% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,159/mo take-home
48% rent burden · Difficult
$80K
~$4,437/mo take-home
45% rent burden · Difficult
$100K
~$5,546/mo take-home
36% rent burden · Tight
$120K
~$6,225/mo take-home
32% rent burden · Manageable
$150K
~$7,781/mo take-home
26% rent burden · Comfortable
High cost of living cuts into your budget. A cash-back card helps recover it.
Earn 2–5% back on groceries, gas, and dining automatically.
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Sacramento.
Compare Sacramento with other cities
Sacramento vs New YorkCompare →Sacramento vs Los AngelesCompare →Sacramento vs ChicagoCompare →Sacramento vs HoustonCompare →Save your comparisonsCreate free account →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only