City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 2.2% higher than in Pensacola, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Pensacola, FL would need about $102,200 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,257 a month in Pensacola, FL versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Pensacola, FL and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Pensacola, FL to Visalia, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (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
| Pensacola, FL | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,157 in Visalia | $97,888 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,240 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
62 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Pensacola, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pensacola, FL 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 Pensacola, FL to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Visalia, CA | Real change, Pensacola → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $98,430 | $96,351 (+91.3%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $126,170 | $123,506 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $79,400 | $77,723 (+1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $125,180 | $122,537 (+57.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.