City comparison
Reno, NV vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 3.2% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $103,200 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,489 a month in Reno, NV and $1,507 in Richmond, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.1% moving from Reno, NV to Richmond, VA ($106,855 → $111,183), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.4% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Reno, NV | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,876 in Richmond | $103,225 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
79 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Reno, NV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Richmond, VA | Real change, Reno → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $64,475 | +7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $78,009 | +7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $93,499 | +7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $111,183 | +7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $131,385 | +7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $61,290 | $63,267 (+1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $132,120 | $136,381 (+8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $84,220 | $86,936 (+5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $93,580 | $96,598 (−10.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.