Los Angeles, CA vs Sacramento, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Sacramento, CA is 6.1% less expensive than Los Angeles, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Los Angeles works out to about $70,400 in Sacramento, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 23.6% less in Sacramento. Goods are 1.4% lower and other services 3.9% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,269 a month in Sacramento and $2,929 in Los Angeles, $7,920 a year less in Sacramento (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $573,000 in Sacramento and $950,000 in Los Angeles.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Sacramento was 3.2% less expensive than Los Angeles.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 23.6% lower in Sacramento than in Los Angeles
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
All items Los Angeles, CA: 113.6 Sacramento, CA: 106.7
Goods Los Angeles, CA: 106.6 Sacramento, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Los Angeles, CA: 170.4 Sacramento, CA: 130.2
Utilities Los Angeles, CA: 158.6 Sacramento, CA: 151.3
Other services Los Angeles, CA: 104.4 Sacramento, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 113.6 | 106.7 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 170.4 | 130.2 |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 151.3 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 100.3 |
| Category | Los Angeles | Sacramento | Sacramento vs Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 113.6 | 106.7 | −6.1% |
| Goods | 106.6 | 105.2 | −1.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 170.4 | 130.2 | −23.6% |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 151.3 | −4.6% |
| Other services | 104.4 | 100.3 | −3.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,929 | $2,269 | −22.5% |
| Typical home value | $950,000 | $573,000 | −39.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Los Angeles | $75,000 | $70,400 | −6.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Los Angeles and Sacramento has narrowed since 2008: 12.0 points then, 6.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 112.2 | 105.2 |
| 2010 | 112.5 | 102.8 |
| 2011 | 111.5 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | 112.1 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 112.4 | 103.3 |
| 2014 | 112.2 | 103.1 |
| 2015 | 113.3 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 111.3 | 101.1 |
| 2017 | 110.2 | 103.6 |
| 2018 | 111.0 | 108.9 |
| 2019 | 110.9 | 107.4 |
| 2020 | 113.9 | 107.0 |
| 2021 | 114.2 | 106.3 |
| 2022 | 113.3 | 109.9 |
| 2023 | 114.7 | 109.1 |
| 2024 | 113.6 | 106.7 |
Goods
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 108.0 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 103.1 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 104.0 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 105.1 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 104.4 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 104.4 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 106.2 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 108.1 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 107.8 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 103.6 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 105.9 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 106.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 108.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 106.5 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 107.1 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 106.6 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 183.8 | 130.4 |
| 2009 | 183.2 | 129.9 |
| 2010 | 180.0 | 127.2 |
| 2011 | 178.3 | 124.2 |
| 2012 | 178.4 | 122.7 |
| 2013 | 176.7 | 120.7 |
| 2014 | 178.5 | 123.4 |
| 2015 | 177.2 | 118.8 |
| 2016 | 178.5 | 125.1 |
| 2017 | 178.4 | 129.9 |
| 2018 | 180.5 | 137.2 |
| 2019 | 183.4 | 134.3 |
| 2020 | 183.6 | 134.0 |
| 2021 | 181.5 | 132.6 |
| 2022 | 176.9 | 131.5 |
| 2023 | 173.0 | 133.4 |
| 2024 | 170.4 | 130.2 |
Utilities
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 118.2 | 97.5 |
| 2009 | 119.5 | 96.4 |
| 2010 | 119.3 | 109.8 |
| 2011 | 114.5 | 112.0 |
| 2012 | 116.2 | 115.0 |
| 2013 | 117.9 | 113.4 |
| 2014 | 127.7 | 120.1 |
| 2015 | 125.1 | 120.7 |
| 2016 | 125.2 | 114.7 |
| 2017 | 127.1 | 109.7 |
| 2018 | 107.9 | 120.0 |
| 2019 | 112.9 | 128.0 |
| 2020 | 117.6 | 130.5 |
| 2021 | 132.3 | 140.3 |
| 2022 | 149.1 | 144.2 |
| 2023 | 140.7 | 138.3 |
| 2024 | 158.6 | 151.3 |
Other services
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.9 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 102.0 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 102.5 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 101.1 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.6 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 103.2 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 101.8 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 103.0 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 99.9 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 100.8 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 101.8 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 102.7 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 102.9 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.7 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 106.1 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 104.4 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,269 in Sacramento vs $2,929 in Los Angeles
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,768 | $1,219 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,809 | $1,250 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,843 | $1,279 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,858 | $1,287 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,888 | $1,309 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,925 | $1,356 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,948 | $1,372 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,955 | $1,380 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,007 | $1,427 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,042 | $1,477 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,062 | $1,505 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,071 | $1,507 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,104 | $1,527 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,132 | $1,576 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,155 | $1,590 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,171 | $1,589 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,190 | $1,615 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,222 | $1,656 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,239 | $1,668 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,246 | $1,660 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,260 | $1,686 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,236 | $1,700 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,236 | $1,756 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,238 | $1,787 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,275 | $1,828 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,338 | $1,916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,468 | $1,995 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,523 | $2,011 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,591 | $2,037 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,668 | $2,091 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,706 | $2,111 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,689 | $2,070 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,706 | $2,085 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,733 | $2,115 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,759 | $2,130 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,742 | $2,112 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,766 | $2,136 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,796 | $2,176 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,819 | $2,192 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,805 | $2,176 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,865 | $2,189 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,871 | $2,220 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,878 | $2,228 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,866 | $2,218 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,890 | $2,226 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,916 | $2,264 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,929 | $2,269 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $573,000 in Sacramento vs $950,000 in Los Angeles
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $507K | $320K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $509K | $327K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $505K | $330K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $495K | $339K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $518K | $348K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $538K | $355K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $528K | $359K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $524K | $367K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $557K | $377K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $578K | $384K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $579K | $390K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $591K | $399K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $613K | $409K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $627K | $416K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $644K | $418K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $660K | $420K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $643K | $424K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $635K | $428K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $645K | $430K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $664K | $435K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $669K | $443K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $666K | $445K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $682K | $452K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $723K | $475K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $741K | $501K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $769K | $533K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $797K | $552K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $822K | $564K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $864K | $595K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $897K | $618K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $890K | $602K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $878K | $579K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $849K | $561K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $858K | $564K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $896K | $573K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $922K | $576K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $918K | $579K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $931K | $586K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $947K | $586K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $961K | $588K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $954K | $586K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $941K | $579K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $938K | $573K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $948K | $575K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $951K | $575K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $947K | $571K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $950K | $573K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Los Angeles, CA
- Cost of living in Sacramento, CA
- Reverse: moving from Sacramento to Los Angeles
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.