salaryRent is higher than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $86,080 a year. That is $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 271 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare Sacramento with other big cities
Compare Sacramento to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in Sacramento?
Share of households by yearly income. 32.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Sacramento
| Size | Sacramento | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,511 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,622 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,950 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,183 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,318 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Sacramento overall?
Everyday prices in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area are 7% above the U.S. average (index 106.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Sacramento
Life in Sacramento
What jobs pay in Sacramento
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $178,540 | 14.5% |
| Pharmacist | $172,680 | 15.0% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $172,010 | 15.0% |
| Registered Nurse | $171,460 | 15.1% |
| Physician Assistant | $161,470 | 16.0% |
| Software Developer | $139,640 | 18.5% |
| Civil Engineer | $130,150 | 19.8% |
| Dental Hygienist | $122,540 | 21.1% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $122,330 | 21.1% |
| Operations Manager | $118,460 | 21.8% |
| Police Officer | $111,460 | 23.2% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $103,390 | 25.0% |
| Firefighter | $94,080 | 27.4% |
| Accountant | $92,110 | 28.0% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $81,570 | 31.7% |
| Market Research Analyst | $78,630 | 32.8% |
| Electrician | $74,830 | 34.5% |
| Carpenter | $74,440 | 34.7% |
| HVAC Technician | $66,670 | 38.7% |
| Plumber | $65,210 | 39.6% |
| Medical Assistant | $61,970 | 41.7% |
| Truck Driver | $60,810 | 42.5% |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,940 | 51.7% |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,510 | 54.4% |
| Warehouse Worker | $45,930 | 56.2% |
| Restaurant Cook | $44,230 | 58.4% |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,100 | 67.8% |
| Cashier | $36,790 | 70.2% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $35,070 | 73.6% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Sacramento?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,361 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $506,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $50,630 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Sacramento, CA?
Renting in Sacramento costs a median of about $2,152 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Sacramento?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $86,080 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Sacramento cheap or expensive?
Sacramento is rated OK: rent takes 27.4% of the typical household income of $94,176. It ranks 271st cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Sacramento?
The median homeowner in Sacramento pays $3,842 a year in property taxes, about 0.76% of the median home value.
Is Sacramento more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 7% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Sacramento?
The median home value in Sacramento is $506,300, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.
528,706 people live in Sacramento. Numbers are typical (middle) values.