Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sacramento, CA and Salem, MA

For one person, living is cheaper in Sacramento, CA: $3,000 a month against $3,554 in Salem, MA, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Salem, MA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

143

Cost of Living Index in Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA Living Index
171

Cost of Living Index in Salem, MA
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Salem, MA Living Index

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Sacramento, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,000

/mo nomad

Salem, MA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,554

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sacramento, CA and in Salem, MA

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

A single person spends $3,000 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $3,554 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Sacramento, CA $3,000
Salem, MA $3,554

A couple spends around $4,471 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $4,918 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Sacramento, CA $4,471
Salem, MA $4,918

A family of three spends $5,943 per month in Sacramento, CA vs $6,282 in Salem, MA, rent included.

Sacramento, CA $5,943
Salem, MA $6,282

Sacramento, CA is about 16% cheaper than Salem, MA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sacramento, CA and Salem, MA sit above the global median – Sacramento, CA by 120%, Salem, MA by 161%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.12 $21.12

$25.21 $25.21

-16.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.6 $99.6

$101 $101

-1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.26 $12.26

$10.89 $10.89

12.58%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$4.95 $4.95

4.85%

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

$2.91 $2.91

$2.48 $2.48

17.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.13 $2.13

38.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.90 $7.90

-0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.83 $7.83

$7.01 $7.01

11.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.26 $1.26

3.97%

White Bread (500g)

$4.16 $4.16

$3.61 $3.61

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.43 $4.43

3.61%

Eggs

$5.87 $5.87

$4.43 $4.43

32.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.16 $15.16

$12.51 $12.51

21.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.14 $15.14

$11.34 $11.34

33.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.50 $18.50

$16.95 $16.95

9.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$4.71 $4.71

5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.58 $1.58

23.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.40 $4.40

0.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$4.68 $4.68

21.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$2.79 $2.79

31.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.93 $2.93

12.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$2.51 $2.51

-4.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.20 $2.20

18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 $11.83

$9.56 $9.56

23.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.21 $14.21

$15.25 $15.25

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.22 $2.22

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$3.35 $3.35

8.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.24 $2.24

14.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$100.0 $100.0

$59.6 $59.6

67.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.47 $3.47

17.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.78 $1.78

7.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.35 $25.35

$26.75 $26.75

-5.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.88 $0.88

84.09%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

40.96%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$22.9K $22.9K

16.48%

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

$231 $231

$193 $193

19.66%

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

$61.0 $61.0

$58.4 $58.4

4.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 $69.0

$65.7 $65.7

5.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.12 $31.12

$42.42 $42.42

-26.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.69 $40.69

Cinema Ticket

$17.25 $17.25

$14.78 $14.78

16.71%

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

$1,532 $1,532

$1,423 $1,423

7.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.0K $19.0K

$21.9K $21.9K

-13.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 $60.5

$85.3 $85.3

-29.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.13 $47.13

$57.1 $57.1

-17.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 $93.1

$97.7 $97.7

-4.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

$98.3 $98.3

32.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 $1,986

$2,353 $2,353

-15.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 $1,491

$2,164 $2,164

-31.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,109 $3,109

$3,963 $3,963

-21.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,505 $2,505

$3,088 $3,088

-18.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,486 $5,486

$2,802 $2,802

95.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,428 $3,428

$2,303 $2,303

48.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,815 $4,815

$9,667 $9,667

-50.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.59

6.57

0.30%

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

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Salem, MA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Sacramento, CA

$1.5K 49.7%

Salem, MA

$2.2K 60.9% 45.1% $673

Groceries & Markets

Sacramento, CA

$463 15.4%

Salem, MA

$402 11.3% 13.1% $61

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Sacramento, CA

$361 12%

Salem, MA

$317 8.9% 12.2% $44

Eating Out

Sacramento, CA

$346 11.5%

Salem, MA

$366 10.3% 5.6% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Sacramento, CA

$149 5%

Salem, MA

$152 4.3% 2.1% $3.2

Getting Around

Sacramento, CA

$124 4.1%

Salem, MA

$81 2.3% 34.7% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Sacramento, CA

$66 2.2%

Salem, MA

$72 2% 9.7% $6.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,986 in Sacramento, CA versus $2,353 in Salem, MA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Salem, MA are about 2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $100 in Sacramento, CA versus $101 in Salem, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Sacramento, CA vs $402 in Salem, MA – so Salem, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Sacramento, CA

🇺🇸 Salem, MA

🕒 Local time

23:38 11:38 PM

02:38 2:38 AM

3 h ahead of Sacramento, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

524,943

155,469

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Sacramento, CA Salem, MA 4,240 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Sacramento, CA
Salem, MA

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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 Salem, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salem, MA is pricier by about 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,500 per month in Sacramento, CA and $5,332 in Salem, MA. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,986 there versus $2,353 in Salem, MA.

Public transport costs about 40% less in Salem, MA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Salem, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,000 in Sacramento, CA and $3,554 in Salem, MA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Salem, MA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,000 in Sacramento, CA to $3,554 in Salem, MA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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