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Sacramento vs Austin

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

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Austin is 15% cheaper than Sacramento overall.Sacramento has a cost of living index of 140 vs Austin at 119 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing Sacramento costs 22% more.

Pierre
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Sacramento
CA
140
COLI index
VS
Austin
TX
119
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategorySacramentoAustinDifference
Overall COLI140119-15%
Housing215168-22%
Groceries111106-5%
Transport113108-4%
Healthcare105103-2%
Utilities118110-7%

Median 1BR Rent

Sacramento
$1,750/mo
Austin
$1,800/mo

Median Home Price

Sacramento
$480,000
Austin
$510,000

Median Household Income

Sacramento
$73,198
Austin
$80,954

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Frequently Asked Questions

Austin is cheaper to live in overall. Sacramento has a cost of living index of 140 while Austin has an index of 119, where 100 represents the US national average. Austin is 15% cheaper than Sacramento overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in Sacramento is $1,750 per month compared to $1,800 in Austin. The median home price in Sacramento is $480,000 versus $510,000 in Austin. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

Sacramento has a cost of living index of 140 and Austin has an index of 119, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in Sacramento, multiply by 0.85. For example a $75,000 salary in Sacramento is equivalent to approximately $63,750 in Austin.

Sacramento has a median household income of $73,198 per year versus $80,954 in Austin. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from Sacramento to Austin is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. Austin is 15% cheaper overall — with the biggest difference in housing. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.