Living Cost Compare
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

vs
Sacramento

California

$1,760/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,620 in Newark, DE versus $1,760 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Newark, DE is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $71,373 in Newark, DE and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 15% higher in Sacramento, CA. Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Newark, DE
Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,649
$1,259
+24% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,391
$1,418
+2% in Sacramento, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,513
$1,742
+15% in Sacramento, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,916
$1,973
+3% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$357,600
$484,600
+36% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$71,373
$83,753
+17% in Sacramento, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$59,750
+10% in Sacramento, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
22.0 yr
35.7 yr
+13.7 yr in Sacramento, CA
Homeownership
50.3%
51.5%
+1.2 pp in Sacramento, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
57.5%
36.4%
+21.1 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
19.6 min
25.6 min
+6.0 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
326.3
756.6
+132% in Sacramento, CA
Property Crime
2,024.6
2,615.3
+29% in Sacramento, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.9°F
61.0°F
+6.1°F in Sacramento, CA
Annual Precipitation
43.1 in
18.5 in
+24.6 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.52/gal
+40% in Sacramento, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SacRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.3
34.7
+80% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.73
$20.33
+32% in Newark, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Sacramento, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Sacramento, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Sacramento, CA

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (DE / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.60%
13.30%
+6.7 pp in CA

Newark vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Sacramento?
Newark, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,620 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Sacramento, CA's $1,760, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Sacramento?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $56,000 a year in Newark versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Sacramento?
Newark is taxed under Delaware's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).