Moving from San Francisco, CA to Sacramento, CA
Moving from San Francisco, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 116 mi and about 2h 47m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully — the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.
116 mi · 2h 47m by car · CA
Distance & route
| Route through | CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, CA 37, I 80 BUSINESS |
| Major cities en route | Santa Rosa, Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland, Vallejo |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| San Francisco | Sacramento | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 106.67 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 151.29 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 105.168 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 130.23 | 100.0 |
Overall prices in Sacramento are 7.7% below San Francisco — a mid-sized gap that shows up mostly in rent and services.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing gap is large: Sacramento typical home at $479,766 is 7.7% under San Francisco at $1,356,662 (Zillow, 2026-03).
YoY change: San Francisco +5.0%, Sacramento -2.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | San Francisco | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 56°F | 63°F |
| January avg low | 46°F | 41°F |
| July avg high | 62°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 20.6" | 19.2" |
Sacramento runs 7.2°F warmer on the annual average (56.2°F vs 63.4°F, NOAA 1991–2020).
Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: Sacramento sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US, SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | San Francisco | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 836,321 | 524,802 |
| Median household income | $141,446 | $83,753 |
| Median age | 39.7 | 35.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 22.9% |
| Avg household size | 2.31 | 2.63 |
Median household income in Sacramento is 7.7% below San Francisco ($141,446 vs $83,753, ACS 5-year 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Sacramento MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 127,580 | $49,240 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 92,040 | $35,560 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 79,450 | $43,790 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 78,260 | $38,490 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 71,860 | $81,700 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Sacramento average 94°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October — register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does household income compare in San Francisco vs Sacramento?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $83,753 in Sacramento vs $141,446 in San Francisco — a 40.8% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is Sacramento, CA from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance is 116 mi and the route typically takes 2h 47m via I 80 and CA 37. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is Sacramento more expensive than San Francisco?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Sacramento is 7.7% lower than San Francisco (106.67 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in Sacramento compared to San Francisco?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $479,766 in Sacramento vs $1,356,662 in San Francisco — a 64.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
What is the climate difference between San Francisco and Sacramento?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 63.4°F in Sacramento vs 56.2°F in San Francisco (7.2°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 19.2 in vs 20.6 in.
How does the job market in Sacramento compare to San Francisco?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $55,290 in the Sacramento MSA vs $72,050 in the San Francisco MSA, on total employment of 1,048,170 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
When is the best time to move from San Francisco to Sacramento?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 116 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Francisco.
City profiles: San Francisco, CA · Sacramento, CA.