City comparison
Baltimore, MD vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.7% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $104,700 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $684 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Baltimore, MD.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.2% moving from Baltimore, MD to Visalia, CA ($121,785 → $106,973), while prices change by −4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.1% in real buying power.
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Baltimore, MD | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 104.5 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,538 in Visalia | $104,670 in Baltimore |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,511/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,794 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,386 (MD) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,070 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baltimore | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 118.2 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 102.4 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 110.2 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 101.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 104.5 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baltimore, MD → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$684/yr.
83 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$684/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baltimore, MD is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Baltimore, MD to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baltimore, MD | Visalia, CA | Real change, Baltimore → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $62,033 | −8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $75,055 | −8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,959 | −8.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,973 | −8.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $126,410 | −8.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baltimore, MD | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Baltimore dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,400 | $98,430 | $103,027 (+34.9%) |
| Software Developers | $138,900 | $126,170 | $132,062 (−4.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,160 | $79,400 | $83,108 (−2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,550 | $125,180 | $131,026 (+31.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.