Head to head
Miami, FL vs Sacramento, CA
Sacramento is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $216/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $2,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Miami is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Miami65 | Sacramento60 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $5,015 | $4,799 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,875 | $11,838 |
| Salary for comfort | $90,500/yr | $92,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $2,436 | $2,255 |
| Median home value | $475,200 | $484,600 |
| Median household income | $59,390 | $83,753 |
| Unemployment | 2.6% | 4.9% |
| Housing score | 5 | 24 |
| Jobs score | 82 | 32 |
| Safety score | 60 | 67 |
| Climate score | 100 | 98 |
| Amenities score | 78 | 83 |
| Population | 446.7K | 524.8K |
| Summer high / winter low | 88° / 61° | 93° / 41° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Miami, FL
Sacramento, CA