City comparison
Greenville, SC vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 7.0% higher than in Greenville, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greenville, SC would need about $107,000 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,221 a month in Greenville, SC versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Greenville, SC and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Greenville, SC to Visalia, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Greenville, SC: price level 93.3 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greenville, SC | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.3 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,039 in Visalia | $93,423 in Greenville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,221/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,580 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greenville | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 88.8 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 93.3 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greenville, SC → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
48 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Greenville, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
91 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greenville, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Greenville, SC to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greenville, SC | Visalia, CA | Real change, Greenville → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greenville, SC | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Greenville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,680 | $98,430 | $91,957 (+51.5%) |
| Software Developers | $121,790 | $126,170 | $117,872 (−3.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,870 | $79,400 | $74,178 (−3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,400 | $125,180 | $116,948 (+43.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.