Sacramento vs San Francisco: cost of living compared
San Francisco is 68% more expensive than Sacramento overall.
Indexes use a US average of 100: below 100 is cheaper than the national average. Housing and transportation are derived from median home prices, rents and commute times; figures come from BLS, Census ACS, Numbeo and the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
The big picture
Moving between Sacramento and San Francisco involves a substantial shift in overall expenses. San Francisco's cost of living is dramatically higher, driven primarily by its housing market, which presents a much bigger gap compared to other categories. While other daily expenses are also more expensive in San Francisco, housing costs are the overwhelming factor contributing to the significant difference in the overall cost of living between these two California metros.
Housing
The difference in housing costs between Sacramento and San Francisco is immense, whether buying or renting. Median home prices in San Francisco are vastly higher, and a typical one-bedroom rental commands a much greater monthly sum. Sacramento generally offers more traditional single-family homes, while San Francisco often features denser, multi-unit housing. Property taxes and insurance costs will also reflect these higher values in San Francisco.
Taxes and everyday costs
Beyond housing, daily expenses are also noticeably higher in San Francisco. Transportation, food, healthcare, and utilities all cost more there than in Sacramento. While state income tax rates are roughly similar for top earners in both locations, the cumulative effect of these higher everyday costs means a household's discretionary spending power will be significantly reduced in San Francisco compared to Sacramento.
Lifestyle trade-offs
Sacramento offers a warmer, drier climate, typical of California's Central Valley, with a generally more relaxed pace and lower population density. San Francisco, in contrast, is known for its cooler, foggier coastal climate, denser urban environment, and a faster pace of life. Public transportation is a more prominent feature of daily life in San Francisco, while Sacramento residents often rely more on personal vehicles, though both have traffic considerations.
Bottom line
For households considering a move between these two California cities, the financial impact is substantial. A move from Sacramento to San Francisco would necessitate a much larger budget to maintain a similar standard of living, primarily due to housing. Conversely, relocating from San Francisco to Sacramento would free up considerable financial resources, allowing for significantly more purchasing power across nearly all spending categories, especially housing.
| Measure | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living (US avg = 100) | 128 | 215 |
| Housing index | 132 | 309 |
| Transportation index | 110 | 135 |
| Food index | 108 | 125 |
| Healthcare index | 108 | 122 |
| Utilities index | 125 | 148 |
| Misc index | 105 | 138 |
| Median home price | $498,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $1,750/mo | $3,450/mo |
| Average commute | 30 min | 34 min |
Compare any two metros with the free cost of living tool, or see the true monthly cost of a specific San Francisco home with the True Cost Calculator.