City Comparison
Sacramento vs Los Angeles
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sacramento scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sacramento
Los Angeles
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in Los Angeles.
Housing costs are a major driver: Sacramento's average rent is
11% lower than Los Angeles's.
| Metric | Sacramento | Los Angeles | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,946 | $2,184 | -11% |
| Groceries | $400 | $450 | -11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $231 | -22% |
| Transport | $90 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,846 | $3,015 | -6% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 149 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 58% 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 $61,558 in Los Angeles.
| Metric | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $48,651 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $61,558 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,750 idx | 32,652 idx |
| Household Income | $91,387 | $81,939 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 55.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sacramento has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Los Angeles.
Sacramento scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sacramento leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 30 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 47.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 47.00 | 60.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Los Angeles is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Sacramento.
From a growth perspective, Sacramento is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sacramento has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 536,449 | 3,863,148 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | — |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 5.20% |
| GDP | $135.5B | $1,000.0B |
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.
Los Angeles
Advantages
Los Angeles boasts a diverse and robust economy, particularly in entertainment, healthcare, and technology sectors, offering varied job opportunities.
The city enjoys a Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine, making it ideal for outdoor activities year-round.
Healthcare quality is high, with major institutions like LA General Medical Center receiving top safety grades and exceeding state benchmarks.
Los Angeles is a global cultural hub, offering a rich array of arts, dining, and entertainment options.
Homicides in Los Angeles decreased by 19% in 2025 compared to 2024, marking the lowest number since 1966.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Los Angeles is significantly high, with housing expenses being 135% higher than the national average.
Los Angeles is a highly car-dependent city, leading to severe traffic congestion and long commute times, averaging 30 minutes.
The city's population is experiencing a slight annual decline, with a -0.15% growth rate projected for 2026.
Despite improvements, Los Angeles's safety score of 58/100 indicates a moderate crime rate, higher than the average U.S. city.
Utility costs in Los Angeles are 9% higher than the national average, adding to the overall expense of living.
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
Los Angeles
#567California, USA
47.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,184
Avg Salary
$48,651
Cost Index
149
Commute
30 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
70
Business
75
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