City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.9% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $103,900 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.6% moving from Olympia, WA to Visalia, CA ($119,630 → $106,973), while prices change by −3.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.1% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (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
| Olympia, WA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,291 in Visalia | $103,852 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
81 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Olympia → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $62,033 | −7.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $75,055 | −7.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,959 | −7.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,973 | −7.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $126,410 | −7.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $98,430 | $102,221 (−2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $126,170 | $131,030 (+5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $79,400 | $82,458 (−12.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $125,180 | $130,002 (+4.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.