How much does it cost to rent in Sacramento, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Sacramento, CA is $2,071. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Sacramento cheaper than other California cities?

Sacramento is among the more affordable cities in California, ranking #331 out of 387 cities at $2,071/mo.

When was Sacramento rent data last updated?

Sacramento rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Leo_Visions / Unsplash

City Report · CA

Sacramento

Name: Average Rent Prices in Sacramento, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 528,706·331st most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for Sacramento, CA

Median rent (all units)

$2,071/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$106

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Sacramento rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Sacramento · $2,071

More expensive than 63% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

69/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Sacramento's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,071/mo

Expected by trend

$2,293/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Sacramento's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,644

1 BR

$1,739

2 BR

$2,159

3 BR

$2,929

4 BR+

$3,381

Research median

$2,159/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$24,852/yr

At $2,071/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 3.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Sacramento, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, 37.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

528,706

Median income

$87,321

Median age

Renters

48.3%

Age distribution

21.5%

26.5%

26.9%

14.2%

Under 1821.5%

18–3426.5%

35–5426.9%

55–6410.8%

65+14.2%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

34%

12.5%

29.4%

20.4%

White34%

Black12.5%

Hispanic29.4%

Asian20.4%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

13.3%

20.4%

29.3%

37.1%

No HS diploma13.3%

HS diploma20.4%

Some college29.3%

Bachelor's+37.1%

Housing tenure

51.7%

48.3%

Owner51.7%

Renter48.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Sacramento, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,648 → $2,071

up 25.7%

Income

$71,074 → $87,321

up 22.9%

Population

518,605 → 528,706

up 1.9%

Renter share

49.9% → 48.3%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

35.1% → 37.1%

+2.0 pts

Median age

35.2 → 36

+0.8 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Sacramento, CA has shifted from $1,648 to $2,071, up 25.7% since 2021. Median household income climbed from $71,074 to $87,321 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.9% shift. Census counts show Sacramento, CA adding about 10,101 residents over the five-year window, up 1.9% on net. The renter share has eased from 49.9% to 48.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 35.1% to 37.1% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Sacramento, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Sacramento

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Sacramento rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Sacramento on your salary?

At $2,071/mo, how Sacramento rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 22.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 31.4% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 15.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 11.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 37.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Sacramento rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Sacramento. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Sacramento

About renting in Sacramento, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Sacramento is $2,071/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,644/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,159/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,739/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,929/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($87,321/yr), Sacramento ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Sacramento an affordable city for renters?

Sacramento is considered affordable for renters. At $2,071/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($87,321/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Sacramento falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Sacramento?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $83,000/year (~$40/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,071/mo in Sacramento. The local median household income is $87,321/yr, meaning the typical Sacramento household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Sacramento?

Rent in Sacramento has increased 3.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Sacramento neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Sacramento are 95821 ($1,599/mo), 95824 ($1,663/mo), and 95825 ($1,677/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Sacramento is $2,071/mo.

How does Sacramento rent compare to other cities in California?

Sacramento is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #331 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,071/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sacramento?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Sacramento ($2,071/mo): Carmichael ($1,795/mo), La Riviera ($1,909/mo).

What percentage of Sacramento residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.3% of Sacramento households are renters, while 51.7% are owner-occupied. Sacramento leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Sacramento rent compare to the national average?

Sacramento's median rent of $2,071/mo is $106 (5%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #331 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

28%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,071/mo, rent takes ~28% of Sacramento's median household income ($87,321/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Sacramento 28%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Sacramento affordability calculator →

Nearby cities