Reno, NV 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 5.6% more expensive than Reno, NV (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Reno works out to about $79,200 in Sacramento, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 9.2% higher and other services 1.5% higher in Sacramento, while housing is 5.5% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 69.5% higher in Sacramento.
- Typical asking rent is $2,269 a month in Sacramento and $2,069 in Reno, $2,400 a year more in Sacramento (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $573,000 in Sacramento and $570,000 in Reno.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Sacramento was 7.2% more expensive than Reno.
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Reno and Sacramento
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
All items Reno, NV: 101.0 Sacramento, CA: 106.7
Goods Reno, NV: 96.3 Sacramento, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Reno, NV: 123.5 Sacramento, CA: 130.2
Utilities Reno, NV: 89.3 Sacramento, CA: 151.3
Other services Reno, NV: 98.7 Sacramento, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 106.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 123.5 | 130.2 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 151.3 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 100.3 |
| Category | Reno | Sacramento | Sacramento vs Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.0 | 106.7 | +5.6% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 | +9.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 123.5 | 130.2 | +5.5% |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 151.3 | +69.5% |
| Other services | 98.7 | 100.3 | +1.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,069 | $2,269 | +9.7% |
| Typical home value | $570,000 | $573,000 | +0.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Reno | $75,000 | $79,200 | +5.6% |
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 Reno and Sacramento has widened since 2008: 0.1 points then, 5.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 103.2 | 105.2 |
| 2010 | 101.3 | 102.8 |
| 2011 | 102.9 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | 102.5 | 104.9 |
| 2013 | 100.9 | 103.3 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 103.1 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 98.2 | 101.1 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 103.6 |
| 2018 | 97.5 | 108.9 |
| 2019 | 100.2 | 107.4 |
| 2020 | 98.3 | 107.0 |
| 2021 | 96.9 | 106.3 |
| 2022 | 97.9 | 109.9 |
| 2023 | 98.0 | 109.1 |
| 2024 | 101.0 | 106.7 |
Goods
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 99.6 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 95.2 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 96.8 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 121.2 | 130.4 |
| 2009 | 112.4 | 129.9 |
| 2010 | 111.6 | 127.2 |
| 2011 | 110.4 | 124.2 |
| 2012 | 109.2 | 122.7 |
| 2013 | 108.2 | 120.7 |
| 2014 | 102.0 | 123.4 |
| 2015 | 104.2 | 118.8 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 125.1 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 129.9 |
| 2018 | 113.1 | 137.2 |
| 2019 | 115.8 | 134.3 |
| 2020 | 113.5 | 134.0 |
| 2021 | 120.3 | 132.6 |
| 2022 | 124.8 | 131.5 |
| 2023 | 115.9 | 133.4 |
| 2024 | 123.5 | 130.2 |
Utilities
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.0 | 97.5 |
| 2009 | 99.3 | 96.4 |
| 2010 | 105.3 | 109.8 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 112.0 |
| 2012 | 102.6 | 115.0 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 113.4 |
| 2014 | 106.4 | 120.1 |
| 2015 | 104.9 | 120.7 |
| 2016 | 93.7 | 114.7 |
| 2017 | 88.7 | 109.7 |
| 2018 | 81.8 | 120.0 |
| 2019 | 86.7 | 128.0 |
| 2020 | 84.7 | 130.5 |
| 2021 | 75.2 | 140.3 |
| 2022 | 82.9 | 144.2 |
| 2023 | 89.4 | 138.3 |
| 2024 | 89.3 | 151.3 |
Other services
- Reno, NV
- Sacramento, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.3 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 102.8 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.1 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 101.0 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 101.5 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 98.6 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 100.6 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 95.4 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 97.3 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 91.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 94.3 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 98.7 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,269 in Sacramento vs $2,069 in Reno
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Reno, NV
- 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
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,000 | $1,219 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,024 | $1,250 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,032 | $1,279 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,050 | $1,287 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,069 | $1,309 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,114 | $1,356 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,128 | $1,372 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,128 | $1,380 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,156 | $1,427 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,223 | $1,477 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,259 | $1,505 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,258 | $1,507 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,295 | $1,527 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,353 | $1,576 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,382 | $1,590 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,376 | $1,589 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,392 | $1,615 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,429 | $1,656 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,441 | $1,668 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,438 | $1,660 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,450 | $1,686 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,453 | $1,700 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,510 | $1,756 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,548 | $1,787 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,597 | $1,828 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,677 | $1,916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,759 | $1,995 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,720 | $2,011 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,752 | $2,037 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,796 | $2,091 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,783 | $2,111 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,754 | $2,070 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,776 | $2,085 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,800 | $2,115 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,794 | $2,130 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,760 | $2,112 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,793 | $2,136 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,845 | $2,176 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,846 | $2,192 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,816 | $2,176 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,860 | $2,189 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,892 | $2,220 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,912 | $2,228 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,911 | $2,218 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,991 | $2,226 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,007 | $2,264 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,069 | $2,269 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $573,000 in Sacramento vs $570,000 in Reno
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Reno, NV
- 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
| Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $255K | $320K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $266K | $327K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $277K | $330K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $288K | $339K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $297K | $348K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $305K | $355K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $309K | $359K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $313K | $367K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $322K | $377K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $328K | $384K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $332K | $390K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $343K | $399K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $356K | $409K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $366K | $416K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $376K | $418K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $380K | $420K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $384K | $424K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $386K | $428K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $388K | $430K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $391K | $435K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $398K | $443K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $400K | $445K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $407K | $452K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $428K | $475K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $456K | $501K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $492K | $533K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $517K | $552K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $535K | $564K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $563K | $595K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $584K | $618K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $568K | $602K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $545K | $579K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $529K | $561K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $528K | $564K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $536K | $573K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $540K | $576K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $545K | $579K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $552K | $586K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $556K | $586K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $562K | $588K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $565K | $586K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $561K | $579K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $558K | $573K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $561K | $575K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $563K | $575K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $563K | $571K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $570K | $573K | $366K |
More about each city
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.