City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 3.0% higher than in Milwaukee, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI would need about $103,000 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,123 in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,151 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Visalia, CA ($111,310 → $106,973), while prices change by +3.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.7% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (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
| Milwaukee, WI | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,979 in Visalia | $97,107 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,151/yr.
60 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,151/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Visalia, CA | Real change, Milwaukee → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $62,033 | −6.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $75,055 | −6.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,959 | −6.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,973 | −6.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $126,410 | −6.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $98,430 | $95,582 (+55.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $126,170 | $122,520 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $79,400 | $77,103 (−4.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $125,180 | $121,558 (+24.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.