Sacramento, CA vs San Francisco, CA

The cost of living difference between Sacramento, CA and San Francisco, CA is dramatic. Sacramento is 43.2% cheaper than San Francisco, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Sacramento has a cost index of 129 while San Francisco sits at 228, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Sacramento is $1,694/month compared to $2,419/month in San Francisco — a 30% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Sacramento is more affordable at $484,600 median vs $1,380,500.

Median household income in Sacramento is $83,753 compared to $141,446 in San Francisco (-40.8%). The higher salaries in San Francisco partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Sacramento spend roughly 24.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in San Francisco.

Climate-wise, Sacramento is notably warmer with an average of 63.4°F compared to 57.7°F in San Francisco. San Francisco receives more rainfall at 22.9" per year compared to 19.2" in Sacramento.