Sacramento, CA vs San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino is moderately more affordable than Sacramento, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Sacramento scores 129 compared to 113 for San Bernardino, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Sacramento can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Sacramento is $1,694/month compared to $1,433/month in San Bernardino — a 18% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: San Bernardino is more affordable at $384,900 median vs $484,600.

Median household income in Sacramento is $83,753 compared to $63,988 in San Bernardino (+30.9%). While Sacramento is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Sacramento spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, less than the 26.9% in San Bernardino.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.4°F vs 66.2°F). Sacramento receives more rainfall at 19.2" per year compared to 9.4" in San Bernardino.