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Mohamed Oun
Sacramento
#23 of 124
North America

Sacramento

CA, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Sacramento compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Sacramento is 22% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Sacramento compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$152,000
-$121K (-44%) vs San Francisco
Based on 116 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$94,544
-$78K (-45%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 38%

Community Insights

New
7.2/10

Sacramento has evolved from a sleepy government town into a strategic haven for remote software engineers fleeing Bay Area costs. While it lacks the vibrant startup ecosystem of its neighbor to the west, it offers a compelling financial arbitrage: high purchasing power and homeownership opportunities on a tech salary that would barely cover rent in San Francisco.

Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances urban amenities with outdoor access, boasting a celebrated food scene and a lush, tree-filled environment. However, the trade-offs are distinct: the searing summer heat and seasonal air quality issues (pollen and wildfire smoke) are frequent complaints. For those who bring their job with them, Sacramento provides a stable, sunny, and comparatively affordable California experience, though it requires tolerance for a quieter social pace and urban grit in the city center.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Net Income

Top 18%

#22

of 124 cities

$94,544/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 19%

#23

of 124 cities

Home Affordability

Top 20%

#25

of 124 cities

≈3.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Sacramento compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$4,223 / m²
57% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Sacramento to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
30% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Sacramento

Solidigm logo
Solidigm
Intel logo
Intel
HPE logo
HPE
Affordability relative to the Bay Area: Housing and rent are significantly cheaper while allowing access to California salaries.
  • Proximity to Nature: uniquely positioned within a two-hour drive of Lake Tahoe (skiing/hiking), Napa Valley (wine), and the San Francisco coast.
  • Farm-to-Fork Food Scene: High-quality local produce and a burgeoning restaurant culture that punches above its weight.
  • Sunshine: consistently sunny weather with mild winters, ranking very high for annual sunshine hours.
  • Slower Pace: A more relaxed, family-friendly lifestyle compared to the hustle and grind culture of Silicon Valley.
  • Tree Canopy: Known as the "City of Trees," offering beautiful, shaded streets in older neighborhoods like Midtown and East Sac.

    • The Bad

    • Extreme Summer Heat: Summers routinely see temperatures exceeding 100°F (38°C) for stretches, which can be oppressive.
    • Air Quality & Allergies: The valley geography traps pollen (notorious for seasonal allergies) and wildfire smoke during fire season.
    • Homelessness & Safety: Visible encampments and property crime are significant concerns in downtown and certain corridors.
    • Limited Local Tech Market: The local job market is dominated by government (state jobs) and healthcare; few high-growth startups or big tech HQs exist locally.
    • "Cow Town" Reputation: Some residents find the nightlife and cultural amenities lacking or "bland" compared to major metropolises.
    • Car Dependency: Public transport (light rail) exists but is limited; owning a car is virtually essential for daily life and exploring.

    Moving Here

    Hard

    Moving to Sacramento is straightforward for those already in the US, but challenging for foreigners due to strict US visa policies (H1B lottery, L1 transfers). Locally, the English language is essential for work and social life. The city is culturally diverse and generally welcoming, with a growing community of tech transplants. Rental markets are competitive but accessible compared to global tech hubs.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote workers wanting to maximize savings without leaving California, families seeking space and suburbs (like Folsom or Roseville), and outdoor enthusiasts who want quick access to the Sierra Nevada mountains.

    Avoid if: You are a single professional seeking a hyper-active 24/7 nightlife, you rely entirely on local employment (non-remote) for career growth in specialized tech fields, or you have severe respiratory issues or allergies.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather7.0/10-20% vs San Francisco
    Safety51+28%
    Pollution47-4%
    Events4-95%
    7.0/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    24°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    10°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    3,608h/yr+546h/yr(+18%)
    Hottest Month High
    34°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    5°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    52/yr(same as San Francisco)

    Community & Quality

    Sacramento community pulse

    Sacramento has 4 Luma events listed.

    95% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Comfortable Weather

    Top 24%

    #30

    of 124 cities

    70/100 weather score

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #60

    of 124 cities

    46.9/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Middle of the pack

    #71

    of 124 cities

    4 events on luma

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #76

    of 124 cities

    50.6/100

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 22%

    #98

    of 124 cities

    62/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 17%

    #104

    of 124 cities

    38%

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    3.6 years
    1.0 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    0/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    35%(same as San Francisco)