City comparison
Reno, NV vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Reno, NV (101.0) and Spokane, WA (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Reno, NV goes as far as $99,300 in Spokane, WA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,489 a month in Reno, NV versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Reno, NV and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in NV and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.1% moving from Reno, NV to Spokane, WA ($106,855 → $106,991), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.8% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Reno, NV | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,339 in Spokane | $100,666 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Spokane, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
71 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Spokane, WA | Real change, Reno → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $62,044 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $75,068 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $89,974 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $106,991 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $126,432 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $98,800 | $99,458 (+59.3%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $130,690 | $131,560 (+4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $86,350 | $86,925 (+5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $111,750 | $112,494 (+4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.