City comparison
Albany, NY vs Reno, NV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 1.5% higher than in Albany, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Albany, NY would need about $101,500 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,489 a month in Reno, NV versus $1,417 in Albany, NY. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Reno, NV and 23% in Albany, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Albany, NY to Reno, NV ($109,810 → $106,855), while prices change by +1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Reno, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 101.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,454 in Reno | $98,567 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,489/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $0 (NV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Reno-Fernley, NV |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Reno, NV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 123.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 101.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
64 Fair offer
Reno, NV → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Reno, NV is in Reno-Fernley, NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Reno, NV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Reno, NV | Real change, Albany → Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,965 | −4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,972 | −4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,859 | −4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,855 | −4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $126,271 | −4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Reno, NV | Reno pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $62,430 | $61,535 (−22.3%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $125,710 | $123,908 (−3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $82,370 | $81,189 (−4.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $107,520 | $105,979 (+6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.