How Much Does It Cost to Live In Sacramento, CA?
Sacramento is the state capital of California and the oldest incorporated city in California.
The pace of life is somewhat slower than in other large Californian cities, and the people are generally warm and friendly.
The city is generally viewed as being affordable for a large California city.
Sacramento was, in the past, one of the most diverse places to live, and even today people from all backgrounds and ethnicities are highly represented.
The city is a neat place for someone wanting a city vibe without the craziness that often accompanies it.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Myers, FL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Olympia, WA
- Orlando, FL
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Reno, NV
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Vancouver, WA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wichita, KS
RESTAURANTS
There is a great variety of food, prices, and ethnicities in this city which means you can find all kinds of good cuisines and food places in a city as large and diverse as Sacramento.
There are lots of great dining options with locally grown, fresh produce and you can eat in an inexpensive restaurant for only 18$.
There are also all the usual chain fast food restaurants.
MARKETS
Sacramento is surrounded by farmland and you can always buy seasonal produce weekly at a local farmers market that also offers fresh fish, meat, cheese, wine, and various other products.
The Sunday Farmers’ Market is the most lively and affordable farmers’ market you’ll ever see anywhere.
Keep in mind that Sacramento is the hub of the richest agricultural area in the world.
TRANSPORTATION
Sacramento is great for cycling which will reduce your costs of transportation.
The wide, flat, tree-lined streets make cycling a relaxing way to move around town and midtown Sacramento.
Regional Transit is the major provider of bus and light-rail service in Sacramento but keeps in mind it’s relatively expensive: the fares are 2.75$ for a single trip or $7 for a day pass.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are expensive in Sacramento too, though it does depend on the amount of electricity you use and on the size of your apartment.
For example, for a bit larger apartment, of about 85m2, all basic utilities like heating, cooling, electricity, and gas will cost you around 321.7$.
SPORTS & LEISURE
When it comes to fitness and sports, you should know that practicing sports or going to the gym in Sacramento is rather expensive.
A gym or a fitness club membership will cost you around 53$.
However, it’s very bike-friendly so you can go cycling and exercise this way for free!
Going to the cinema and enjoying some movie time is expensive.
Prepare to pay around 12$ per ticket.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shop the Grid in Midtown Sacramento contains more than 50 boutique shops in Sacramento’s original street “grid”.
Then there’s the Westfield Galleria at Roseville, which is the largest mall in the metropolitan area after recent expansion, and just to get you familiar with the prices right away: quality jeans will cost you around 45$, and you won’t find any good running sneakers without cashing out around 90$.
RENT PER MONTH
If you want to have your own place in midtown or downtown, you are lucky if you find a studio for less than $1700 per month.
If you’re looking for a two-bedroom apartment, you can rent it for around $2000 but they are probably not that modern or as close to the entertainment district.
Often rent prices are half or one-third of what they are in and around San Francisco for equivalent places.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Sacramento, CA
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $18.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $7.50 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.00 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.27 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $4.56 |
| Eggs (12) | $4.30 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.75 |
| Monthly Pass | $100.00 |
| Gasoline | $1.31 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $321.7 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.16 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $78.50 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $53.60 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.75 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $12.00 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $45.1 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $34.29 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $92.57 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1976.92 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1720.83 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $3490.00 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Sacramento, CA?
Rent is taking up more than 30% of one’s entire salary – and no wonder, since it’s not cheap at all in Sacramento.
Food is definitely the second biggest expense for anyone living in Sacramento – though this is the situation in most countries around the world.
Food is an everyday necessity and when it’s not cheap, it amounts to a high monthly expense.
Other significant expenses for the people of Sacramento are restaurants (a very high percentage) and transportation, while clothing and shoes draw the least amount of money from them.
Average Costs Breakdown
Sacramento, CA: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Sacramento is close to the Bay Area (and Silicon Valley) meaning it’s much less expensive to live here, yet due to the overflow of technology companies trying to escape the expense of the Bay Area, you can find plenty of good-paying jobs.
If you have any qualifications related to agriculture, you probably will find a good job, since agriculture is big here.
The usual minimum wage is around 2200$ which is a decent minimum wage and most people can earn for a normal life.
An average monthly salary in Sacramento is around 4600$ which is absolutely enough for a comfortable life in this country.
Sacramento Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Sacramento Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
