City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Reno, NV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Eugene, OR (101.6) and Reno, NV (101.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Eugene, OR goes as far as $99,500 in Reno, NV.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,489 a month in Reno, NV versus $1,286 in Eugene, OR. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Reno, NV and 22% in Eugene, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $7,920 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.4% moving from Eugene, OR to Reno, NV ($106,437 → $106,855), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.9% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Reno, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 101.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,455 in Reno | $100,548 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,489/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $0 (NV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Reno-Fernley, NV |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Reno, NV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 123.5 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 101.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$7,920/yr.
70 Strong offer
Reno, NV → Eugene, OR
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$7,920/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Reno, NV is in Reno-Fernley, NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Reno, NV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Reno, NV | Real change, Eugene → Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,965 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,972 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,859 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,855 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,271 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Reno, NV | Reno pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $62,430 | $62,772 (−2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $125,710 | $126,399 (+4.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $82,370 | $82,822 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $107,520 | $108,110 (−4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.