Chicago vs Sacramento Cost of Living
Sacramento is approximately 4.8% more expensive than Chicago. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Chicago, IL
Sacramento, CA
| Salary in Chicago | Equivalent in Sacramento | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $52,400 | +$2,400 (+4.8%) |
| $75,000 | $78,600 | +$3,600 (+4.8%) |
| $100,000 | $104,800 | +$4,800 (+4.8%) |
| $150,000 | $157,100 | +$7,100 (+4.7%) |
| $200,000 | $209,500 | +$9,500 (+4.8%) |
Chicago vs Sacramento: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, Sacramento is 4.8% more expensive than Chicago. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Chicago, you'd spend approximately $5,238 for the same lifestyle in Sacramento. Or: $100,000 in Chicago ≈ $104,762 in Sacramento for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Both Illinois and California levy state income taxes (typical effective rate ~5% at middle incomes). Tax burden is roughly comparable.
What costs more (and less) in Sacramento
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. Sacramento's housing index (0.88×) compared to Chicago's (0.79×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Chicago to Sacramento, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: 11% higher
- Groceries: 3% higher
- Transportation: 2% higher
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Chicago Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Chicago. Sacramento Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Sacramento. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.