City comparison
Detroit, MI vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Detroit, MI (100.3) and Visalia, CA (99.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Detroit, MI goes as far as $99,500 in Visalia, CA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,122 a month in Detroit, MI and $1,123 in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,071 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Detroit, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −8.9% moving from Detroit, MI to Visalia, CA ($117,402 → $106,973), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.5% in real buying power.
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (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
| Detroit, MI | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.3 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,528 in Visalia | $100,474 in Detroit |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,122/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,080 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Detroit | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 94.7 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 100.3 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Detroit, MI → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,071/yr.
70 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Detroit, MI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,071/yr.
67 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Detroit, MI is in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Detroit, MI to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Detroit, MI | Visalia, CA | Real change, Detroit → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,081 | $62,033 | −8.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,372 | $75,055 | −8.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,729 | $89,959 | −8.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,402 | $106,973 | −8.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,734 | $126,410 | −8.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Detroit, MI | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Detroit dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $108,990 | not published | — |
| Software Developers | $130,760 | $126,170 | $126,768 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,650 | $79,400 | $79,776 (−1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,280 | $125,180 | $125,773 (+29.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.