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Cost of living in Sacramento, CA

Livability score 49 · cost-of-living index 109.1 (US = 100)

Sacramento, CA
Photo: Quintin Soloviev via Commons · CC BY 4.0

How Sacramento compares

Where Sacramento falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 109 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 109 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $583k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $583k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $389 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $389 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.8% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.8% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.79% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.79% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 500 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 500 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 35.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 35.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 84° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 84° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 45° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 45°

Map of Sacramento

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 109.1 metro-area #183 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 104.9 metro-area #180 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $6.21 metro-area #183 of 200
Median household income $89,227 metro-area #33 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $46,404 metro-area #31 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 38.3 years metro-area #94 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 36.3% metro-area #69 of 200
Foreign-born residents 18.9% metro-area #33 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 62.5% metro-area #146 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 5.74% metro-area #140 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +5.6% metro-area #71 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $582,707 metro-area #181 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.5× metro-area #174 of 200
1-yr home appreciation -1.6% metro-area #168 of 200
Price per square foot $389 metro-area #184 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,500 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $2,283 metro-area #177 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 6,424
Median days on market 12 metro-area #65 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 13.5% state #169 of 200
Combined sales tax 8.82% state #150 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 13.30%
Capital gains tax 13.30% state #180 of 200
High earners 1% Mental Health Services surtax on income over $1M (13.3% top rate)
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 0.79% metro-area #78 of 200
Median property tax paid $4,023 metro-area #156 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 78.9 years metro-area #36 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,200 state #139 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 5.1% metro-area #21 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 97 metro-area #20 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $19,000 state #178 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $300 state #174 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.65% of value (~$182/yr) state #115 of 200
Emissions testing Required
Emissions detail Smog check every 2 years in most counties
DMV & license offices 17
Avg commute to work 28 min metro-area #166 of 200
Commute by driving alone 67.7% metro-area #29 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 38.0% metro-area #154 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 35.3¢/kWh state #181 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $317 state #181 of 200
Gasoline $4.85/gal state #182 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $138 state #159 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $83 state #135 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,500 state #51 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $2,400 state #154 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 96.1 — Relatively High metro-area #157 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $950 state #182 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 55 metro-area #175 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,000 metro-area #78 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 72% state #171 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,200 metro-area #51 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 74 metro-area #159 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 16 metro-area #188 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 84°F metro-area #37 of 200
Avg winter low 45°F metro-area #20 of 200
Annual precipitation 19.2" metro-area #37 of 200
Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 78% metro-area #9 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 9b
Frost window 01-31 → 12-31

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 500 state #161 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,330 state #112 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 76 metro-area #97 of 200
Parks 73
Hiking areas 16
Golf courses 29
Shooting ranges 8
Lakes 11

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 5 state #165 of 200
Permit detail Very difficult; CEQA + local review, esp. SF/coastal

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Sacramento

Major public and private employers in the Sacramento, CA area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Sutter Health Healthcare Search →
UC Davis Health Healthcare Search →
California Department of Transportation Government Search →
State of California Government Search →
Intel Tech Careers →
Aerojet Aerospace/Defense Search →

Salaries by occupation in Sacramento

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $170,080
Pharmacists $168,290
Lawyers $168,180
Registered Nurses $157,810
Marketing Managers $156,930
Human Resources Managers $154,830
Financial Managers $149,990
Physician Assistants $147,680
Software Developers $142,240
Physical Therapists $131,760
Civil Engineers $125,760
Construction Managers $120,900
Mechanical Engineers $118,050
General & Operations Managers $115,860
Dental Hygienists $114,650
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $112,230
Web Developers $96,130
Data Scientists $93,020
Accountants & Auditors $84,940
Elementary School Teachers $79,300
Electricians $74,170
Graphic Designers $67,290
Carpenters $65,470
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $61,610
Real Estate Sales Agents $60,850
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $59,940
Medical Assistants $59,520
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,700

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