City comparison
Buffalo, NY vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 4.2% higher than in Buffalo, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Buffalo, NY would need about $104,200 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,139 a month in Buffalo, NY and $1,123 in Visalia, CA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Buffalo, NY to Visalia, CA ($111,301 → $106,973), while prices change by +4.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.7% in real buying power.
- Buffalo, NY: price level 95.8 (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
| Buffalo, NY | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.8 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,154 in Visalia | $96,012 in Buffalo |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,139/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,790 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Buffalo | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 81.0 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 129.5 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 95.8 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Buffalo, NY → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
56 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Buffalo, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Buffalo, NY is in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Buffalo, NY to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Buffalo, NY | Visalia, CA | Real change, Buffalo → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,543 | $62,033 | −7.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,091 | $75,055 | −7.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,598 | $89,959 | −7.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,301 | $106,973 | −7.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,525 | $126,410 | −7.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Buffalo, NY | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Buffalo dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,490 | $98,430 | $94,505 (+23.6%) |
| Software Developers | $127,850 | $126,170 | $121,138 (−5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,120 | $79,400 | $76,234 (−7.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,060 | $125,180 | $120,188 (+21.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.