Sacramento, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Sacramento, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Sacramento →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 523,600, Sacramento, California sits roughly in line with the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $78,954 per year (+10% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Sacramento run a median $450,500, above the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+38%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,592. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Home prices in Sacramento run about 5.7× median household income — a stretched ratio that puts real pressure on affordability for local buyers. The local housing market has held steady, with prices up only 0.57% over the past year. Sacramento carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,592/mo in Sacramento would take 24.2% of your income.
$382/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($450,500) would take 36.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$563/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Sacramento
Median home value is $450,500 and median gross rent is $1,592/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Sacramento rose 0.57% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,255/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Sacramento's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Sacramento reported a violent crime rate of 720.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Sacramento
Planning a move to Sacramento? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Sacramento, CA?
- Sacramento's key cost-of-living figures: $450,500 median home value, $1,592 median monthly rent, and $78,954 median household income, per the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sacramento?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Sacramento's median rent of $1,592/month takes an income of roughly $63,680 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Sacramento.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Sacramento?
- Renting in Sacramento at the median $1,592/month calls for about $63,680 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $450,500 takes roughly $103,072 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Sacramento safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Sacramento's violent crime rate was 720.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Sacramento →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Sacramento's.