Los Angeles, CA vs Sacramento, CA: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Los Angeles, CA is the higher-tax metro at 9.5%, versus 8.75% in Sacramento, CA. The 0.75% gap works out to $0.75 on a $100 purchase, $7.50 on $1,000 and $187.50 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.75%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $7.50Paid in Los Angeles
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $187.50Vehicle-sized purchase
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles County
9.5%
Combined rate · ranked #9 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | California state (incl. mandatory local) | 7.25% |
| special district | Los Angeles County transit and homelessness districts | 2.25% |
- Population
- 3,820,914
- Median household income
- $80,366
Los Angeles County stacks several voter-approved district taxes — Measure M, Measure H and predecessors — which is the entire reason the rate is 2.25 points above the state floor.
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento County
8.75%
Combined rate · ranked #21 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | California state (incl. mandatory local) | 7.25% |
| special district | Sacramento County Measure A districts | 1% |
| city | City of Sacramento Measure U | 0.5% |
- Population
- 526,384
- Median household income
- $82,659
Sacramento's Measure U city tax is a general-fund tax, so it applies citywide even where the county district taxes do not.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.75%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.75% of $1,000 is $7.50. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Los Angeles or Sacramento?
Los Angeles, CA at 9.5%, versus 8.75% in Sacramento, CA.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Los Angeles on a $1,000 purchase?
About $7.50 more, and roughly $187.50 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Los Angeles and Sacramento have different rates?
The state share is 7.25% in CA and 7.25% in CA. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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