CostIndexUSA

Sacramento, CA vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent
More AffordableCT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Waterbury is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sacramento, you would need $74,800 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.6%
Sacramento
130.2
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries7.5%
Sacramento
105.2
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Sacramento
105.3
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.3%
Sacramento
95.3
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities2.4%
Sacramento
151.3
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 106.7) = salary × 0.9353. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Sacramento has 31.6% lower housing costs compared to Waterbury.

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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.