Living Cost Compare
Sacramento

California

$1,740/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Sacramento, CA versus $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Sacramento, CA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,753 in Sacramento, CA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 21% higher in Washington, DC. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Sacramento, CA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,763
+40% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,418
$1,885
+33% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,742
$1,949
+12% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,973
$2,249
+14% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$484,600
$724,600
+50% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$83,753
$106,287
+27% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,750
$71,060
+19% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
34.9 yr
+0.8 yr in Sacramento, CA
Homeownership
51.5%
41.1%
+10.4 pp in Sacramento, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
36.4%
63.6%
+27.2 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
25.6 min
30.3 min
+4.7 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
757.2
936
+24% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,615.3
3,627.1
+39% in Washington, DC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
61.0°F
58.2°F
+2.8°F in Sacramento, CA
Annual Precipitation
18.5 in
39.7 in
+21.2 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.91/gal
$4.30/gal
+27% in Sacramento, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Sacramento, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
25.0
+25% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.01
+13% in Sacramento, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Sacramento, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Sacramento, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Sacramento, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Sacramento, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.75%
+2.6 pp in CA

Sacramento vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sacramento or Washington?
Sacramento, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,740 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sacramento than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Sacramento versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Sacramento or Washington?
Sacramento is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).