🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,707 in Romford versus $3,258 in Sacramento, CA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,118 in Romford versus $4,769 in Sacramento, CA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,529 in Romford versus $6,280 in Sacramento, CA.
🌍Living in Romford costs roughly 17% less than in Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Romford103% above, Sacramento, CA145% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.15£20.31
$20.08$20.08
35.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110£82.4
$76.6$76.6
43.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.27£7.68
$10.63$10.63
-3.39%
Cappuccino
$4.69£3.51
$5.47$5.47
-14.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12£1.58
$2.53$2.53
-16.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58£1.19
$2.10$2.10
-24.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.65£6.47
$8.06$8.06
7.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93£5.18
$8.04$8.04
-13.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87£1.40
$1.17$1.17
59.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05£1.53
$4.30$4.30
-52.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50£1.87
$5.46$5.46
-54.21%
Eggs
$4.79£3.58
$4.55$4.55
5.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.23£8.40
$15.78$15.78
-28.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03£6.75
$15.18$15.18
-40.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.45£10.81
$18.84$18.84
-23.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24£2.42
$5.14$5.14
-36.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04£1.52
$2.02$2.02
0.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30£2.47
$4.15$4.15
-20.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.63£2.71
$7.11$7.11
-48.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77£1.32
$3.64$3.64
-51.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96£1.47
$4.96$4.96
-60.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13£0.85
$2.70$2.70
-58.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61£1.20
$2.46$2.46
-34.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.11£15.79
$11.72$11.72
80.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.48£10.09
$15.66$15.66
-13.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79£2.09
$2.16$2.16
29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05£2.28
$2.93$2.93
4.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.72£2.78
$2.46$2.46
51.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.0£65.1
$98.3$98.3
-11.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70£3.52
$4.04$4.04
16.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51£1.13
$1.91$1.91
-20.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.78£30.51
$28.01$28.01
45.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87£1.40
$1.30$1.30
43.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K£28.6K
$30.1K$30.1K
27.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K£29.1K
$28.6K$28.6K
35.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$324£243
$334$334
-2.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.77£14.79
$58.3$58.3
-66.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.64£31.90
$76.1$76.1
-44.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.6£37.86
$45.58$45.58
11.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.65$29.65
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.68£13.22
$13.97$13.97
26.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,803£1,348
$1,713$1,713
5.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8K£14.1K
$27.5K$27.5K
-31.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.3£70.6
$59.2$59.2
59.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.67£31.92
$63.7$63.7
-32.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111£82.7
$93.8$93.8
17.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6£67.0
$128$128
-30.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,874£1,402
$2,084$2,084
-10.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228£919
$1,697$1,697
-27.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,367£2,519
$3,432$3,432
-1.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,359£1,764
$2,899$2,899
-18.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,606£3,445
$4,891$4,891
-5.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,446$3,446
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Romford
Sacramento, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,795£2,091
$4,672$4,672
-40.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
6.57
-23.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Romford: July 28, 2026
Last update for Sacramento, CA: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,874 in Romford and $2,084 in Sacramento, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sacramento, CA pays 67% 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: $110 in Romford vs $77.0 in Sacramento, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $330 vs $474, with Romford cheaper for home cooking.
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
Romford vs Sacramento, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Romford and in Sacramento, CA?
Romford and Sacramento, CA differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,707 vs $3,258 including rent). Romford is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Sacramento, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Romford and in Sacramento, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,874 in Romford versus $2,084 in Sacramento, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Romford and in Sacramento, CA?
A monthly transit pass in Romford runs roughly 13% less than in Sacramento, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Romford and Sacramento, CA?
Childcare runs $1,803 in Romford versus $1,713 in Sacramento, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Romford 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 Romford 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: Romford or Sacramento, CA?
Expats usually find Romford gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Sacramento, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.