Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and Sacramento, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Sacramento, CA: $3,056 a month against $4,323 in Bergen County, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bergen County, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$4,323
/mo nomad
Sacramento, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,056
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bergen County, NJ and in Sacramento, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bergen County, NJ and in Sacramento, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,323 in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,056 in Sacramento, CA.

  • Bergen County, NJ $4,323
  • Sacramento, CA $3,056

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,463 in Bergen County, NJ versus $4,515 in Sacramento, CA.

  • Bergen County, NJ $5,463
  • Sacramento, CA $4,515

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,603 in Bergen County, NJ versus $5,974 in Sacramento, CA.

  • Bergen County, NJ $6,603
  • Sacramento, CA $5,974

Living in Bergen County, NJ is roughly 41% more expensive than in Sacramento, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen County, NJ 219% above, Sacramento, CA 125% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.48 $22.48
$20.81 $20.81
8.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 $85.3
$98.6 $98.6
-13.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.83 $12.83
$12.42 $12.42
3.30%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$5.05 $5.05
1.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.94 $2.94
4.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.04 $3.04
-26.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.19 $8.19
$7.98 $7.98
2.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.09 $8.09
$8.09 $8.09
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.29 $1.29
12.40%
White Bread (500g)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.16 $4.16
5.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.59 $7.59
$4.63 $4.63
63.93%
Eggs
$5.07 $5.07
$5.77 $5.77
-12.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.66 $12.66
$15.32 $15.32
-17.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.91 $11.91
$15.36 $15.36
-22.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.75 $17.75
$17.93 $17.93
-1.00%
Apples (1kg)
$5.25 $5.25
$5.15 $5.15
1.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.95 $1.95
-21.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.10 $5.10
$4.23 $4.23
20.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$5.74 $5.74
-12.02%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$3.77 $3.77
-27.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.05 $3.05
$3.30 $3.30
-7.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.54 $2.54
-6.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.73 $2.73
-12.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.90 $11.90
$11.95 $11.95
-0.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.56 $24.56
$14.16 $14.16
73.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.63 $2.63
-34.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 $4.46
$3.55 $3.55
25.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.48 $2.48
68.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$169 $169
$99.6 $99.6
69.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.94 $3.94
-32.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.91 $1.91
-19.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.11 $24.11
$24.77 $24.77
-2.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.56 $1.56
-32.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K $28.0K
$35.0K $35.0K
-19.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.8K $26.8K
-3.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 $211
$233 $233
-9.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.5 $73.5
$59.7 $59.7
23.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 $64.7
$70.1 $70.1
-7.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.2 $98.2
$40.45 $40.45
142.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$49.53 $49.53
$40.99 $40.99
20.83%
Cinema Ticket
$15.26 $15.26
$17.17 $17.17
-11.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,285 $2,285
$1,561 $1,561
46.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K $24.1K
$19.4K $19.4K
24.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.52 $48.52
$61.1 $61.1
-20.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.34 $46.34
$47.14 $47.14
-1.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 $79.9
$95.1 $95.1
-15.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$129 $129
18.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,786 $2,786
$2,096 $2,096
32.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,685 $2,685
$1,536 $1,536
74.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,541 $4,541
$3,263 $3,263
39.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,963 $2,963
$2,525 $2,525
17.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,928 $3,928
$4,820 $4,820
-18.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,697 $3,697
$3,439 $3,439
7.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergen County, NJ
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,356 $5,356
$4,704 $4,704
13.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.59
0.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: October 20, 2026

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bergen County, NJ
$2.7K
Sacramento, CA
$1.5K 42.8% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Bergen County, NJ
$460
Sacramento, CA
$465 1.2% $5.4
Eating Out
Bergen County, NJ
$358
Sacramento, CA
$344 3.9% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergen County, NJ
$349
Sacramento, CA
$363 4.1% $14
Getting Around
Bergen County, NJ
$196
Sacramento, CA
$123 37.2% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Bergen County, NJ
$147
Sacramento, CA
$149 1.4% $2.1
Sport & Entertainment
Bergen County, NJ
$129
Sacramento, CA
$75 41.9% $54

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,786 in Bergen County, NJ and $2,096 in Sacramento, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ vs $99.0 in Sacramento, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $465 per month, with Bergen County, NJ cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Bergen County, NJ
🇺🇸 Sacramento, CA
🕒 Local time
23:42 11:42 PM
20:42 8:42 PM
3 h behind Bergen County, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,668
524,943
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bergen County, NJ Sacramento, CA 4,020 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bergen County, NJ
  • Sacramento, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bergen County, NJ vs Sacramento, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bergen County, NJ and in Sacramento, CA?
Bergen County, NJ and Sacramento, CA differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($4,323 vs $3,056 including rent). Sacramento, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bergen County, NJ or Sacramento, CA?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Bergen County, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bergen County, NJ and in Sacramento, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,786 in Bergen County, NJ versus $2,096 in Sacramento, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sacramento, CA – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $85.0 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bergen County, NJ or Sacramento, CA?
All in, you'll spend $4,323 per month in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,056 in Sacramento, CA – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $2,500 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Sacramento, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Bergen County, NJ and Sacramento, CA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Bergen County, NJ or Sacramento, CA?
Expats usually find Sacramento, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bergen County, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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