CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Tucson is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 9.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $72,700 in Tucson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.5%
Sacramento
130.2
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries8.6%
Sacramento
105.2
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Sacramento
105.3
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Sacramento
95.3
Tucson
94.8
Utilities40.8%
Sacramento
151.3
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$72,700
$7,300 less needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9082. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Sacramento has 29.5% lower housing costs compared to Tucson.

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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.