City Comparison
Sacramento vs San Bernardino
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Sacramento scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Sacramento
San Bernardino
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
San Bernardino is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
2% lower than in Sacramento.
| Metric | Sacramento | San Bernardino | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,946 | $1,803 | +8% |
| Groceries | $400 | $450 | -11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $90 | $120 | -25% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,846 | $2,803 | +2% |
| Cost Index | 112 | 124 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 21% 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 $55,000 in San Bernardino.
| Metric | Sacramento | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $77,000 | $63,500 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,750 idx | 51,210 idx |
| Household Income | $91,387 | $67,415 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
San Bernardino runs warmer on average — a 66.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, San Bernardino comes out ahead with 328 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — San Bernardino sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Sacramento | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 66.80°F |
| Summer High | °F | 93.30°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 44.70°F |
| Rainfall | in | 19.60 in |
| Snowfall | in | 0.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 328 | |
| Humidity | 55.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
For walkability, San Bernardino leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Sacramento | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 47.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 47.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 2.4x the population of San Bernardino.
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 | San Bernardino |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 536,449 | 222,044 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.53% | 0.01% |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 32.2 |
| Unemployment | 5.00% | 5.50% |
| GDP | $135.5B | — |
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.
San Bernardino
Advantages
More affordable cost of living compared to coastal California cities.
Proximity to diverse outdoor recreational opportunities, including mountains and deserts.
Growing logistics and transportation industry providing job opportunities.
Developing urban core with ongoing revitalization efforts.
Diverse and multicultural population contributing to a rich community fabric.
Drawbacks
Higher crime rates compared to state and national averages, particularly property crime and vehicle theft.
Housing costs are higher than the national average.
Car dependency is high, with public transportation options being less comprehensive.
Economic disparities exist within the population.
Perception of safety can be a concern for some 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
San Bernardino
#604California, USA
37.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,803
Avg Salary
$63,500
Cost Index
124
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
328/yr
Avg Temp
66.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.01%
Unemployment
5.50%
Livability
70
Business
68
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