CostIndexUSA

Rochester, NY vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $88,000 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+48.8%
Rochester
87.5
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+5.5%
Rochester
99.7
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Rochester
102.6
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.6%
Rochester
92.9
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+13.6%
Rochester
133.2
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Rochester to see what you'd need to earn in Sacramento to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 97) = salary × 1.1000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 48.8% higher housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.