City comparison
Colorado Springs, CO vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Colorado Springs, CO (100.7) and Visalia, CA (99.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Colorado Springs, CO goes as far as $99,100 in Visalia, CA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,379 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.1% moving from Colorado Springs, CO to Visalia, CA ($109,246 → $106,973), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.2% in real buying power.
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
- 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
| Colorado Springs, CO | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.7 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,124 in Visalia | $100,884 in Colorado Springs |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,464/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,710 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Colorado Springs, CO | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Colorado Springs, CO and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Colorado Springs | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.2 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 83.2 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 100.7 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Colorado Springs, CO → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,379/yr.
72 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,379/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Colorado Springs, CO is in the Colorado Springs, CO pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Colorado Springs, CO to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Colorado Springs, CO | Visalia, CA | Real change, Colorado Springs → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,351 | $62,033 | −1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,650 | $75,055 | −1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,870 | $89,959 | −1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,246 | $106,973 | −1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,096 | $126,410 | −1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Colorado Springs, CO | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Colorado Springs dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,140 | $98,430 | $99,300 (+62.4%) |
| Software Developers | $134,280 | $126,170 | $127,285 (−5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,000 | $79,400 | $80,102 (−5.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,140 | $125,180 | $126,286 (+31.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.