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Mohamed Oun
Sacramento
#26 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 Taipei?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Sacramento is 74% better off vs in Taipei

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

Median Salary
$158,000
+$108K (+216%) vs Taipei
Based on 120 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$98,276
+$65K (+193%) vs Taipei
Tax Rate: 38%

Community Insights

New

Sacramento has emerged as a top tier refuge for software engineers, particularly those who can work remotely for Bay Area companies. It offers a "California Lite" experience: you get the sunshine, the proximity to nature, and the diverse food culture, but at a fraction of the cost of San Francisco or San Jose. While the local tech scene is smaller—dominated by state government and healthcare roles—the city's infrastructure supports remote work well. Residents enjoy a high quality of life with more space, though they must contend with searing summer heat and seasonal air quality issues.

Resident Sentiment

Transplants from the Bay Area generally feel a sense of relief regarding their finances and living space, often citing that they can finally "breathe." However, there is a common sentiment of "cultural adjustment" regarding the slower pace and limited late-night options. Long-time residents have a love-hate relationship with the influx of tech workers, blaming them for rising prices, but everyone bonds over the shared relief of the Delta Breeze—the evening wind that cools the city down after hot days.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Net Income

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

$98,276/yr

Current value

Home Affordability

Top 20%

#25

of 124 cities

≈3.5 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 21%

#26

of 124 cities

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$4,248 / m²
61% cheaper than Taipei
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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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
68% more expensive than Taipei
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Sacramento

Solidigm logo
Solidigm
Intel logo
Intel
HPE logo
HPE
  • Significantly lower cost of living and housing prices compared to the Bay Area, allowing for home ownership.
  • Strategic location with easy access to Lake Tahoe (skiing/hiking), Napa Valley, and San Francisco.
  • Known as the "Farm-to-Fork Capital" with access to high-quality local produce and a surprisingly diverse food scene.
  • Abundance of trees and parks, specifically the American River Parkway for cycling and running.
  • Slower, more relaxed pace of life that is ideal for families and those experiencing burnout from the Bay Area "hustle".
  • Availability of fiber internet in many neighborhoods, supporting a reliable remote work setup.

    • The Bad

    • Intense summer heat, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F (38°C) for stretches of days.
    • Poor air quality during wildfire season, as smoke settles in the valley, plus severe seasonal allergies (pollen).
    • Smaller local tech job market; most local opportunities are in government or healthcare with lower salary caps than Big Tech.
    • Limited nightlife and club scene compared to major metros like SF, LA, or NYC.
    • The drive to the Bay Area can be grueling due to traffic on I-80, making daily commuting unsustainable.
    • Rising housing costs have created some resentment among locals towards high-earning tech transplants.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    The ideal candidate is a remote-first software engineer with a family or a desire for homeownership. If you love the outdoors (especially skiing or hiking in Tahoe) and prefer weekend BBQs over high-end clubbing, you will thrive here. It is also perfect for those who want to stay within the California tax/time zone orbit without the crushing cost of living of the coast.

    Skip it if...

    Young, single engineers looking for a fast-paced dating scene or vibrant nightlife will likely find Sacramento "sleepy" or boring. Career climbers who feel the need to be physically present in Silicon Valley offices for networking or advancement should avoid moving here, as the "super commute" is soul-crushing. Additionally, anyone with severe asthma or heat intolerance should think twice.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather7.0/10+312% vs Taipei
    Safety51-39%
    Pollution47-4%
    Events0-100%
    7.0/10TechCities weather score vs 1.7/10 in Taipei

    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 26°C in Taipei)
    Average Low
    10°C(vs 21°C in Taipei)
    Sunshine Hours
    3,608h/yr+2234h/yr(+163%)
    Hottest Month High
    34°C(vs 33°C in Taipei)
    Coldest Month Low
    5°C(vs 14°C in Taipei)
    Rainy Days
    52/yr-89/yr(-63%)

    Community & Quality

    Sacramento community pulse

    Sacramento has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than Taipei.

    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)

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #77

    of 124 cities

    50.8/100

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 20%

    #101

    of 124 cities

    66/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 17%

    #104

    of 124 cities

    38%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 8%

    #115

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    3.5 years
    22.7 years quicker than Taipei
    Muggy Days
    0/yr-203/yr(-100%)
    Cloud Cover
    35%(vs 57% in Taipei)