San Diego vs Sacramento Air Quality Comparison
Which city has cleaner air right now, from the latest EPA AirNow AQI
As of September 23, 2026, Sacramento, CA has cleaner air than San Diego, CA — AQI 52 (Moderate) vs 54 (Moderate), a gap of 2 AQI points in the latest EPA AirNow observations. Lower AQI means cleaner air. San Diego's reading is driven by PM2.5 and Sacramento's by PM2.5.
San Diego, CA
Moderate
Sacramento, CA
Moderate
Summary
Sacramento has 2 points better air quality
Sacramento has an AQI of 52 compared to 54
Extra Protection for San Diego Homes
Air quality in San Diego is moderate (AQI 54), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
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5-Day Forecast Comparison
| Day | San Diego | Sacramento | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | AQI 53 | AQI 77 | San Diego |
| Wed, Sep 23 | AQI 56 | AQI 51 | Sacramento |