Sacramento wins overall by ~15% (COL index)
Cost of living: Sacramento vs Seattle (2026)
A $82,500 salary in Sacramento buys roughly what $97,441 does in Seattle (COL-adjusted). Your real trade-offs are taxes, rent, and day-to-day prices — we break them down and personalize below.
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Tell us about your household — we calculate your real annual savings.
Estimated annual swing
+$591/yr
Favoring Sacramento for this income & household (illustrative).
With an extra $49/mo in Sacramento, you could max a Roth IRA contribution faster and still grow your savings buffer.
Studio rent/mo
1BR rent/mo
2BR rent/mo
Median home price
Groceries index (100 = US avg)
Budget meal (1 person)
Mid-range dinner (2)
Monthly transit pass/mo
Gas price/gal
Car insurance/mo
Monthly utilities bundle/mo
Internet/mo
Median household income/yr
State income tax%
Sales tax (combined)%
Movie ticket
Gym membership/mo
Beer at restaurant
Overall COL index (100 = US avg)
Walk score / 100
| Category | Sacramento California | Seattle Washington | Who wins | Your impact at $83K · 1br · 1 car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | ||||
| Studio rent/mo | $1,600Wins | $1,900 | Sacramento wins +$300/mo | $3,600/yr saves in Sacramento |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,000Wins | $2,400 | Sacramento wins +$400/mo | $4,800/yr saves in Sacramento |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,600Wins | $3,300 | Sacramento wins +$700/mo | $8,400/yr saves in Sacramento |
| Median home price | $480KWins | $750K | Sacramento wins +$270K | — |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 106Better | 108 | Sacramento wins +2 | — |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $16Better | $18 | Sacramento wins +$2/mo | — |
| Mid-range dinner (2) | $65Better | $70 | Sacramento wins +$5/mo | — |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $100Better | $100 | — | — |
| Gas price/gal | $4.40 | $4.20Better | Seattle wins −$0.20 | — |
| Car insurance/mo | $155Better | $160 | Sacramento wins +$5/mo | — |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Monthly utilities bundle/mo | $150 | $120Wins | Seattle wins −$30/mo | $360/yr saves in Seattle |
| Internet/mo | $65Better | $65 | — | — |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | ||||
| Median household income/yr | $68K | $97KWins | Seattle wins +$29K more/yr | — |
| State income tax% | 9.3% | 0.0%Wins | Seattle wins -9.3 pp | $7,673/yr saves in Seattle |
| Sales tax (combined)% | 8.8%Wins | 10.3% | Sacramento wins +1.5 pp | — |
| 🎬 LeisureQ1 2026 | ||||
| Movie ticket | $16.00Better | $17.00 | Sacramento wins +$1.00 | — |
| Gym membership/mo | $48Wins | $60 | Sacramento wins +$12/mo | — |
| Beer at restaurant | $7.00Wins | $8.00 | Sacramento wins +$1.00 | — |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | ||||
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 127Wins | 150 | Sacramento wins +23 | — |
| Walk score / 100 | 47 | 73Wins | Seattle wins +26 more/yr | — |
Complete the Picture
While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
Tax-smart rewards
Turn ~$7,680/yr tax difference into cash back
Sacramento fits your move math — cash-back cards stack on groceries, gas, and dining you're already doing.
Home + auto bundle
New state — new insurance rates
Bundling often saves hundreds/yr. Compare before you sign a lease in Sacramento.
High-yield savings
Park ~$4,800/yr rent savings at 4–5%+ APY
Don't let relocation cash sit at 0% — put it to work until closing day.
More ways to compare this move
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Open the full interactive tool to add up to 5 cities, drop in your salary, and see rent burden.
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While you’re comparing — don’t leave money on the table.
If cash is tight
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Frequently asked questions
Is Sacramento cheaper than Seattle?
Yes. Sacramento is 15% cheaper than Seattle based on overall cost of living indices (127 vs 150, where 100 = US average).
What is the average rent in Sacramento vs Seattle?
As of Q1 2026, the median 1-bedroom rent in Sacramento is $2,000/month and in Seattle is $2,400/month. Sacramento is cheaper by 17%.
How much do I need to earn in Seattle to match a $75,000 salary in Sacramento?
To maintain a similar lifestyle, you would need approximately $88,583/year in Seattle to match a $75,000 salary in Sacramento. This estimate is based on overall cost of living indices and does not account for individual spending patterns.
Which city has lower taxes — Sacramento or Seattle?
Seattle has the lower state income tax rate at 0% vs 9.3%. Seattle has no state income tax at all, which can save thousands of dollars per year depending on your income. Note that sales tax and local taxes also vary — see the full breakdown in the table above.
Is it worth moving from Sacramento to Seattle?
It depends on your priorities. Sacramento offers lower overall costs and tax advantages, but both cities have different job markets, weather, and lifestyle trade-offs. Use the comparison table above to evaluate rent, groceries, transportation, and income potential side by side based on your specific budget.
Data sourced from Zillow, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, and US Census ACS · Updated Q1 2026 · For general guidance only
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Salary equivalent: Sacramento ↔ Seattle
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