Median rent is 15% lower in San Bernardino ($1,508/mo vs $1,779/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Bernardino, where the median home runs $422,300 versus $506,300. Households earn more in Sacramento ($87,321 vs $67,415 a year). Taken together, San Bernardino is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 107.3 against 109.1 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Sacramento, CA.
Quick verdict
San Bernardino is 2% cheaper overall
Cost index: 107.3 in San Bernardino vs 109.1 in Sacramento (US average = 100)
City A
Sacramento, CA
City B
San Bernardino, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Bernardino, CA to maintain your standard of living from Sacramento, CA?
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$73,797
You could earn $1,203 less (2% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Sacramento
California
San Bernardino
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in San Bernardino at $1,508/mo compared to $1,779/mo in Sacramento (15% gap). Median home values are within 17% of each other: $506,300 in Sacramento and $422,300 in San Bernardino.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Sacramento
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Bernardino
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Sacramento has cleaner air on average: 52.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 57.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Sacramento if you prioritize higher median household income ($87,321/yr).
Pick San Bernardino if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,508/mo median).
Is Sacramento cheaper than San Bernardino?
San Bernardino is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 107.3 versus 109.1 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in San Bernardino.
How much is rent in Sacramento vs San Bernardino?
Median rent is $1,779/mo in Sacramento, CA and $1,508/mo in San Bernardino, CA. San Bernardino, CA has the lower rent by about 15%.
Which has higher salaries — Sacramento or San Bernardino?
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento, CA and $67,415 in San Bernardino, CA. Sacramento, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Sacramento, CA has better air quality on average: 52.0 AQI versus 57.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Sacramento or San Bernardino?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in San Bernardino to match my Sacramento income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Sacramento, CA is equivalent to roughly $98,396 in San Bernardino, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
