Cost of Living Comparison Between Sacramento, CA and Boulder, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Sacramento, CA and Boulder, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,256 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $3,285 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,841 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $4,604 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,426 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $5,924 in Boulder, CO, rent included.

Sacramento, CA is about 1% cheaper than Boulder, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sacramento, CA and Boulder, CO sit above the global median – Sacramento, CA by 143%, Boulder, CO by 145%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$20.04 $20.04

-1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.4 $78.4

$68.7 $68.7

14.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.52 $10.52

$11.04 $11.04

-4.71%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.94 $5.94

-5.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$3.33 $3.33

-22.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.44 $2.44

-14.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.06 $6.06

29.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$6.98 $6.98

13.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.03 $1.03

13.59%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.69 $3.69

13.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$4.49 $4.49

20.27%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$5.54 $5.54

-16.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.66 $15.66

$13.29 $13.29

17.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 $14.91

$14.76 $14.76

1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.14 $19.14

$17.34 $17.34

10.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.36 $4.36

18.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.44 $1.44

43.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.69 $3.69

9.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.87 $6.87

$4.83 $4.83

42.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.70 $2.70

39.63%

Onion (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$2.61 $2.61

84.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.24 $2.24

20.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.30 $2.30

3.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.63 $11.63

$10.19 $10.19

14.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.78 $15.78

$17.17 $17.17

-8.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.86 $1.86

10.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.83 $3.83

-22.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.74 $2.74

-10.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.8 $98.8

$153 $153

-35.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.54 $2.54

53.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.42 $1.42

34.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.22 $27.22

$24.34 $24.34

11.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.81 $0.81

54.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.0K $30.0K

$26.8K $26.8K

11.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.9K $28.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

10.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$328 $328

$191 $191

71.79%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.2 $58.2

$60.0 $60.0

-3.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.0 $75.0

$72.4 $72.4

3.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.29 $45.29

$79.6 $79.6

-43.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.01 $30.01

$20.39 $20.39

47.18%

Cinema Ticket

$13.99 $13.99

$16.74 $16.74

-16.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$1,440 $1,440

16.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.8K $27.8K

$30.6K $30.6K

-9.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 $60.7

$73.7 $73.7

-17.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.9 $64.9

$36.83 $36.83

76.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 $92.5

$89.2 $89.2

3.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$100.0 $100.0

24.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,021 $2,021

$2,122 $2,122

-4.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,696 $1,696

$1,822 $1,822

-6.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,568 $3,568

$3,968 $3,968

-10.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,825 $2,825

$2,806 $2,806

0.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,012 $5,012

$4,412 $4,412

13.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,687 $3,687

$4,514 $4,514

-18.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,631 $4,631

$5,220 $5,220

-11.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.42

2.34%

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

Last update for Sacramento, CA: April 20, 2026

Last update for Boulder, CO: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,021 in Sacramento, CA versus $2,122 in Boulder, CO. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Boulder, CO, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78 in Sacramento, CA versus $69 in Boulder, CO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $470 vs $423 – making Boulder, CO the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sacramento, CA vs Boulder, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Boulder, CO is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,884 per month in Sacramento, CA and $4,927 in Boulder, CO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sacramento, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Boulder, CO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $78.0 in Sacramento, CA and $69.0 in Boulder, CO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,256 in Sacramento, CA and $3,285 in Boulder, CO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Sacramento, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sacramento, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boulder, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.