SacramentoMoney Index August 2026
"State capital, steady checks."
Sacramento — Money Index — Key Facts
- 12% Savings Rate. Sacramento households save about 12% of income — close to the US average.
- Median Household: $78k. Sacramento households earn about $78k — right around the US median.
- Sacramento Quirk. Roughly 1 in 5 Sacramento workers are employed by the state government.
- 53% Own Their Home. Only 53% of Sacramento households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
- Financial Stress: 52/100. Money stress in Sacramento sits at 52/100 — close to the national norm.
- 26-Minute Commute. Sacramento's one-way commute averages 26 minutes — right around the US norm. Roughly 199 hours a year on the road.
- 13% of Land Is Parks. Roughly 13% of Sacramento's land is parkland — about the big-city median.
- Work-Life Balance: 60/100. Sacramento scores 60/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- Happiness Score: 68/100. Residents rate life in Sacramento a 68/100 — roughly the US average.
- Cost of Living: 124. Sacramento is about 24% more expensive than the typical US city. A $75k salary here feels more like $60k elsewhere.
Government employment in Sacramento means more pensions and steadier paychecks than most CA metros.
With a median household income of ~$78k, a 12% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 124, Sacramento ranks #29 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
About 13% of Sacramento's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Sacramento's average commute (~26 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Sacramento household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Sacramento's cost of living and savings rate.
How Sacramento feels about money
Four Sacramento money truths
Sacramento's savings rate runs 12% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Sacramento runs above the US average, so price discipline matters more here than in most metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
California residents in Sacramento report a 68/100 happiness score with stress at 52/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Roughly 1 in 5 Sacramento workers are employed by the state government."
Money lessons from Sacramento
- 1
Pensions are wealth — count them
- 2
Don't underprice government job stability
- 3
Use stable income to invest more aggressively
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Sacramento money FAQ
Is Sacramento, California a good city for saving money?+
Sacramento households save about 12% of income, with a happiness score of 68/100 and a work-life balance score of 60/100. Government employment in Sacramento means more pensions and steadier paychecks than most CA metros.
What is the median household income in Sacramento?+
The median household income in Sacramento, California is roughly $78,000 per year. About 52% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Sacramento?+
Sacramento's cost of living index sits at 124 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 53%.
How long is the average commute in Sacramento?+
Sacramento's average commute (~26 min one-way) is close to the US average of ~27 minutes.
How much urban green space does Sacramento have?+
About 13% of Sacramento's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
What money personality fits Sacramento?+
The Pragmatist — Driven by math, not hype.
What's surprising about money in Sacramento?+
Roughly 1 in 5 Sacramento workers are employed by the state government.
