CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableNJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Trenton is slightly cheaper than Sacramento — 3.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $77,400 in Trenton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.8%
Sacramento
130.2
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries5.1%
Sacramento
105.2
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation2.4%
Sacramento
105.3
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare2.4%
Sacramento
95.3
Trenton
93
Utilities25.8%
Sacramento
151.3
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9672. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sacramento, CA

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 3.8% higher housing costs compared to Sacramento.

Income & Job Market

Sacramento, CA

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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.