City comparison
Little Rock, AR vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 11.7% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $111,700 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,123 a month in Visalia, CA versus $989 in Little Rock, AR. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Visalia, CA and 16% in Little Rock, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,383 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Little Rock, AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Little Rock, AR to Visalia, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +11.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.0% in real buying power.
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much 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
| Little Rock, AR | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,706 in Visalia | $89,521 in Little Rock |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $989/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,790 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Little Rock | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Little Rock, AR → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,383/yr.
38 Weak offer
Visalia, CA → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.7%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,383/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Little Rock, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Little Rock, AR to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Little Rock, AR | Visalia, CA | Real change, Little Rock → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −10.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −10.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −10.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −10.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −10.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Little Rock, AR | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Little Rock dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,580 | $98,430 | $88,115 (+50.4%) |
| Software Developers | $104,070 | $126,170 | $112,948 (+8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,810 | $79,400 | $71,079 (+8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,070 | $125,180 | $112,062 (+38.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.