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 |
|---|---|
| ๐ HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,600 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,000 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,600 |
| Median home price | $480K |
| ๐ Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 106 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $16 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $65 |
| ๐ TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $100 |
| Gas price/gal | $4.40 |
| Car insurance/mo | $155 |
| โก UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $150 |
| Internet/mo | $65 |
| ๐ฐ Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $68K |
| State income tax rate | 9.3% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 8.8% |
| ๐ 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 ยท Difficult
$50K
~$2,773/mo take-home
72% rent burden ยท Difficult
$60K
~$3,328/mo take-home
60% rent burden ยท Difficult
$75K
~$4,159/mo take-home
48% rent burden ยท Difficult
$80K
~$4,437/mo take-home
45% rent burden ยท Difficult
$100K
~$5,546/mo take-home
36% rent burden ยท Tight
$120K
~$6,225/mo take-home
32% rent burden ยท Manageable
$150K
~$7,781/mo take-home
26% rent burden ยท Comfortable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Sacramento.
Compare Sacramento with other cities
Sacramento vs New YorkCompare โSacramento vs Los AngelesCompare โSacramento vs ChicagoCompare โSacramento vs HoustonCompare โ
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS ยท Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only