City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 12.1% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $112,100 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.0% moving from San Diego, CA to Visalia, CA ($121,585 → $106,973), while prices change by −10.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
- 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
| San Diego, CA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,219 in Visalia | $112,083 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.8%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Visalia, CA | Real change, San Diego → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $62,033 | −1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $75,055 | −1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,959 | −1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,973 | −1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $126,410 | −1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $98,430 | $110,323 (+13.7%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $126,170 | $141,415 (−13.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $79,400 | $88,994 (−7.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $125,180 | $140,306 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.