CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Tempe is slightly cheaper than Sacramento — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $77,400 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.9%
Sacramento
130.2
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries9.7%
Sacramento
105.2
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Sacramento
105.3
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Sacramento
95.3
Tempe
98.8
Utilities38.3%
Sacramento
151.3
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9681. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sacramento, CA

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

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 6.9% lower housing costs compared to Tempe.

Income & Job Market

Sacramento, CA

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

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.