City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 1.7% higher than in Raleigh, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Raleigh, NC would need about $101,700 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,589 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.8% moving from Raleigh, NC to Visalia, CA ($111,147 → $106,973), while prices change by +1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.4% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
- 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
| Raleigh, NC | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,699 in Visalia | $98,329 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,589/yr.
64 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,589/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Visalia, CA | Real change, Raleigh → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $62,033 | −5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $75,055 | −5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,959 | −5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,973 | −5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $126,410 | −5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $98,430 | $96,785 (+60.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $126,170 | $124,062 (−6.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $79,400 | $78,073 (−4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $125,180 | $123,088 (+45.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.