City comparison
Los Angeles, CA vs Sacramento, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 6.5% higher than in Sacramento, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Sacramento, CA would need about $106,500 in Los Angeles, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,085 a month in Los Angeles, CA versus $1,832 in Sacramento, CA. On $100,000, that's 34% of take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA and 30% in Sacramento, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.9% moving from Los Angeles, CA to Sacramento, CA ($124,085 → $117,984), while prices change by −6.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.2% in real buying power.
- Los Angeles, CA: price level 113.6 (much pricier)
- Sacramento, CA: price level 106.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 113.6 | 106.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,928 in Sacramento | $106,465 in Los Angeles |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,085/mo | $1,832/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 34% | 30% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,850 | $59,750 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV |
Rent areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Los Angeles | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 170.4 | 130.2 |
| Goods | 106.6 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 158.6 | 151.3 |
| Other services | 104.4 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 113.6 | 106.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Los Angeles, CA → Sacramento, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.5%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
82 Strong offer
Sacramento, CA → Los Angeles, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.1%; rent takes 34% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
37 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Los Angeles, CA is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA pay area; Sacramento, CA is in Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Los Angeles, CA to Sacramento, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | Real change, Los Angeles → Sacramento |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,957 | $68,419 | +1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $87,061 | $82,780 | +1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $104,349 | $99,218 | +1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $124,085 | $117,984 | +1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $146,632 | $139,422 | +1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Los Angeles, CA | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento pay in Los Angeles dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $101,860 | $103,390 | $110,074 (+8.1%) |
| Software Developers | $160,920 | $139,640 | $148,667 (−7.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,360 | $92,110 | $98,065 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $135,560 | $171,460 | $182,545 (+34.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.