City comparison
Reno, NV vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 1.2% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $101,200 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,489 a month in Reno, NV versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Reno, NV and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.1% moving from Reno, NV to Visalia, CA ($106,855 → $106,973), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (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
| Reno, NV | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,823 in Visalia | $101,191 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
72 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Visalia, CA | Real change, Reno → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $62,033 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $75,055 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $89,959 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $106,973 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $126,410 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $98,430 | $99,602 (+59.5%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $126,170 | $127,673 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $79,400 | $80,346 (−2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $125,180 | $126,671 (+17.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.