City Comparison
Sacramento vs Anaheim
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sacramento scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sacramento
Anaheim
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
25% lower than in Anaheim.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sacramento's average rent is
22% lower than Anaheim's.
| Metric | Sacramento | Anaheim | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,946 | $2,487 | -22% |
| Groceries | $400 | $411 | -3% |
| Utilities | $180 | $262 | -31% |
| Transport | $90 | $514 | -82% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $139 | +65% |
| Monthly Total | $2,846 | $3,813 | -25% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 149 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 97% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Sacramento is estimated at
$65,000 vs $59,000 in Anaheim.
| Metric | Sacramento | Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $39,182 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $59,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,750 idx | 26,297 idx |
| Household Income | $91,387 | $95,227 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Sacramento | Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 55.00% | 60.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Sacramento scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Anaheim leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sacramento | Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 47.0/100 | 50.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 47.00 | 67.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Anaheim.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Anaheim has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sacramento | Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 536,449 | 346,597 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 34.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 3.20% |
| GDP | $135.5B | $22.8B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
Anaheim
Advantages
Anaheim boasts a diverse job market with strong opportunities in tourism, healthcare, and manufacturing.
The city enjoys a Mediterranean climate with over 280 sunny days annually, ideal for outdoor activities.
Home to world-renowned entertainment like Disneyland Resort, offering abundant recreational and cultural attractions.
Healthcare costs are approximately 7% lower than the national average.
The unemployment rate in Anaheim was 3.2% in March 2026, below state and county averages.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Anaheim is significantly high, approximately 48.7% above the national average.
Housing costs are particularly expensive, being around 175.1% higher than the U.S. average.
Anaheim has a higher violent crime rate (596.2 per 100,000 residents) compared to the national average.
Traffic congestion is a notable issue, especially on major freeways and around popular attractions.
Public transportation options are limited, leading to high car dependency for most residents.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
Anaheim
#597California, USA
41.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,487
Avg Salary
$39,182
Cost Index
149
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
72
Business
70
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