Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Sacramento?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Sacramento?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $57,000 in Sacramento.

Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Sacramento?

Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Raleigh vs Sacramento Cost of Living 2026

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Sacramento

California

$1,740/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,740 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 2% higher in Sacramento, CA. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC

Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio

$1,301

$1,259

+3% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,323

$1,418

+7% in Sacramento, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,462

$1,742

+19% in Sacramento, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,715

$1,973

+15% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$377,800

$484,600

+28% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$82,424

$83,753

+2% in Sacramento, CA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,990

$59,750

+15% in Sacramento, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.7 yr

+1.0 yr in Sacramento, CA

Homeownership

51.2%

51.5%

+0.3 pp in Sacramento, CA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

52.9%

36.4%

+16.5 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

23.4 min

25.6 min

+2.2 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

491.5

757.2

+54% in Sacramento, CA

Property Crime

2,838

2,615.3

+8% in Raleigh, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

60.6°F

61.0°F

+0.4°F in Sacramento, CA

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

18.5 in

+27.5 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.91/gal

+37% in Sacramento, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.50

+100% in Sacramento, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.0

33.4

+108% in Sacramento, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.50

$20.72

+18% in Sacramento, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Sacramento, CA

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Sacramento, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Sacramento, CA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Sacramento, CA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Sacramento, CA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Sacramento, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / CA)

4.75%

7.25%

+2.5 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

13.30%

+9.3 pp in CA

Raleigh vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Sacramento?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Sacramento?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Sacramento?: Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).