Sacramento vs Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Sacramento
Salem
💡 The Verdict
Salem is 21% cheaper than Sacramento overall. A $75,000 salary in Sacramento is equivalent to $59,180 in Salem.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Sacramento (left) vs Salem (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Sacramento versus Salem. Differences shown from Sacramento perspective.
| Item | Sacramento | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,260/mo | $1,050/mo | +$210.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,700/mo | $1,470/mo | +$230.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,230/mo | $1,950/mo | +$280.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.03 | $3.01 | +$0.02 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.90 | $4.06 | $-0.16 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.22 | $3.67 | $-0.45 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.98 | $6.15 | $-0.17 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.55 | $3.33 | +$0.22 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.36 | $15.41 | +$4.95 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Sacramento has the same purchasing power as $59,180 in Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Salem equals $95,050 in Sacramento.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $1349 difference is driven by Oregon having a higher state income tax rate. California details → · Oregon details →
Reading These Numbers: Sacramento (128) vs Salem (101)
Sacramento at 128 is 28% above the US average, while Salem at 101 is 1% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Sacramento, the composite index of 128 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 163, followed by groceries (104), utilities (108), transportation (111), and healthcare (106). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,700/mo in Sacramento and $1,470/mo in Salem, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,760.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $13,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $84,000.0 difference in median home prices between Sacramento and Salem 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.
🔗 Related Tools
📚 Moving & Relocation Resources
Amazon affiliate links
CITY PROFILES
Making Your Decision: Sacramento vs Salem
Choosing between Sacramento and Salem 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.
The cost gap between Sacramento and Salem reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.