Business & Real Estate

Sacramento one of US cities that needs ‘most wealth to live comfortably,’ US News says

It cost more to live in Sacramento than it does in Washington D.C., Portland or Denver, according to a new housing cost ranking.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Sacramento No. 15 out of 25 most expensive places to live in the nation behind San Jose, Seattle and New York City. The median home price in the capital city is $619,981 and the median monthly rent is $1,465.

“Many people think Sacramento’s best attribute is that it’s located a few hours from exciting destinations like San Francisco and Lake Tahoe,” the consumer advice and analysis company wrote on its website. “Though it’s constantly overshadowed by cosmopolitan places in its own state, technological and cultural developments breathe life into the California capital.”

METHODOLOGY

Metro areas were ranked based on their gross rent and the yearly housing expenses of homeowners with mortgages.

The U.S. News & World Report analyzed public data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, internal resources and user opinions.

California cities that ‘require the most wealth’

California took up nearly half of the list of cities that “require the most wealth to live comfortably” in the U.S. between 2023 and 2024. Housing costs vary slightly on real estate websites like Redfin and Zumper:

No. 1 | San Diego

  • Median home price: $919,507
  • Median monthly rent: $1,842

No. 2 | Los Angeles

  • Median home price: $836,831
  • Median monthly rent: $1,685

No. 5 | Santa Barbra

  • Median home price: $464,954
  • Median monthly rent: $1,810
  • No. 6 | San Francisco

  • Median home price: $1,122,946
  • Median monthly rent: $2,155
  • No. 7 | Salinas

  • Median home price: $925,458
  • Median monthly rent: $1,718
  • No.8 | Santa Rosa

  • Median home price: $889,590
  • Median monthly rent: $1,856
  • No. 10 | Vallejo and Fairfield

  • Median home price: $606,442
  • Median monthly rent: $1,802
  • No. 14 | San Jose

  • Median home price: $1,524,907
  • Median monthly rent: $2,511
  • No. 15 | Sacramento

  • Median home price: $619,981
  • Median monthly rent: $1,465
  • No. 17 | Stockton

  • Median home price: $589,200
  • Median monthly rent: $1,387
  • No. 19 | Modesto

  • Median home price: $463,918
  • Median monthly rent: $1,251
  • No. 20 | Fresno

  • Median home price: $430,711
  • Median monthly rent: $1,098
  • This story was originally published October 24, 2023 at 12:15 PM.

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