It may not have the flashy reputation of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but Sacramento embodies the very best of what makes California so unique. The city is well known for preserving its history, from early settlements like Sutter’s Fort to the gorgeous 19th century architecture of Old Sacramento to the artifacts in the Sacramento History Museum. Pop culture and the fine arts are well-represented, with local stages hosting symphony concerts and rock shows and galleries displaying works by the old masters as well as modern upstarts. The local restaurant scene is famous for its heavy emphasis on “farm to fork” principles, making it one of the best places to find fresh, locally sourced food.
Those living in Sacramento love to take advantage of the mild climate, whether that means biking the River Trail, taking the kids to Fairytale Town, or heading over to Sutter Health Park to catch a River Cats baseball game. Thousands of students attend classes at the Sacramento campus of California State University, as well as the two-year Sacramento City College.
Rental rates in Sacramento vary, partly due to the large population of college students and government workers, but the city’s rental market is enormous, making it easy to find the right apartment, condo, or house within your budget.
The California State Capitol is also a museum
Step back in time in Old Sacramento
The historic Memorial Stadium was built in 1926
Fall in a Sacramento park
The Delta King riverboat in Old Sacramento
Sacramento's landmark Ziggurat Building
As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Sacramento, CA is $1,445 for a studio, $1,550 for one bedroom, $1,846 for two bedrooms, and $2,325 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Sacramento has increased by 0.4% in the past year.
The cost of living in Sacramento, CA is 24.8% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Sacramento is 41.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,445 - $2,325. You can expect to pay 8.0% more for groceries, 42.8% more for utilities, and 36.0% more for transportation.
Experience all Sacramento offers without breaking the bank. Explore our detailed guide to moving to Sacramento on a budget.
Somewhat Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.
Some Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Very Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.
Public
Grades K-6
875 Students
Public
Grades K-6
655 Students
Public
Grades K-6
621 Students
Public
Grades K-6
480 Students
Public
Grades K-8
586 Students
Public
Grades K-8
586 Students
Public
Grades 7-8
1,075 Students
Public
Grades K-8
797 Students
Public
Grades K-8
639 Students
Public
Grades K-8
1,013 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
838 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,884 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,678 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,492 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,246 Students
602
Communities
104,245
Units
214
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73
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6,530
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33
Cities
73
Communities
6,530
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33
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20
Communities
2,238
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7
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3,219
Communities
893,585
Units
829
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35
Communities
2,947
Units
15
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.
