CostIndexUSA

Los Angeles, CA vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Los Angeles
113.6
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Sacramento is moderately cheaper than Los Angeles — 6.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Los Angeles, you would need $75,100 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing23.6%
Los Angeles
170.4
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Los Angeles
106.6
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation3.9%
Los Angeles
109.6
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Los Angeles
99.1
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities4.6%
Los Angeles
158.6
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Los Angeles to see what you'd need to earn in Sacramento to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$75,100
$4,900 less needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9393. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Home Price
$944,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
27.4×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Los Angeles has 23.6% lower housing costs compared to Sacramento.

Income & Job Market

Los Angeles, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
3,979,576
Top Industries
EntertainmentTechnologyHealthcareLogisticsReal Estate

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Los Angeles, CA
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.