⚖️ City Comparison

Peoria vs Sacramento

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data

Peoria

Illinois
94
Below Average
$258,000
Median Home
$1,090/mo
Median Rent
$50,300
Median Income

Sacramento

California
128
Expensive
$450,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$64,660
Median Income

💡 The Verdict

27% Cheaper

Peoria is 27% cheaper than Sacramento overall. A $75,000 salary in Peoria is equivalent to $102,128 in Sacramento.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values for Peoria (left) vs Sacramento (right). National average = 100.

Housing
84
Housing
163
Groceries
87
Groceries
104
Utilities
88
Utilities
108
Transportation
96
Transportation
111
Healthcare
90
Healthcare
106

Detailed Price Comparison

Estimated item-level prices in Peoria versus Sacramento. Differences shown from Peoria perspective.

ItemPeoriaSacramentoDifference
1-Bed Rent$820/mo$1,260/mo$-440.00
2-Bed Rent$1,090/mo$1,700/mo$-610.00
3-Bed Rent$1,430/mo$2,230/mo$-800.00
Bread (loaf)$2.61$3.03$-0.42
Milk (gallon)$3.67$3.90$-0.23
Eggs (dozen)$2.62$3.22$-0.60
Coffee (latte)$4.75$5.98$-1.23
Gas (gallon)$3.23$3.55$-0.32
Restaurant Meal$13.02$20.36$-7.34

💰 Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Peoria has the same purchasing power as $102,128 in Sacramento.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sacramento equals $55,078 in Peoria.

💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison

Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.

$53,962
Peoria (Illinois)
$52,987
Sacramento (California)

The $975 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Illinois details → · California details →

⚙️ Customize Your Comparison

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94 vs 128

Reading These Numbers: Peoria (94) vs Sacramento (128)

Peoria at 94 is 6% below the US average, while Sacramento at 128 is 28% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.

In Peoria, the composite index of 94 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 84, followed by groceries (87), utilities (88), transportation (96), and healthcare (90). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.

For renters: With median rents of $1,090/mo in Peoria and $1,700/mo in Sacramento, the annual rent difference is approximately $7,320.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $36,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $192,000.0 difference in median home prices between Peoria and Sacramento translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.

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Making Your Decision: Peoria vs Sacramento

Choosing between Peoria and Sacramento involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.

When weighing Peoria against Sacramento, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.