City comparison
Reno, NV vs Waterbury, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 1.2% higher than in Waterbury, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Waterbury, CT would need about $101,200 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,489 a month in Reno, NV and $1,445 in Waterbury, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,925 a year higher in Waterbury, CT than in Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +17.4% moving from Reno, NV to Waterbury, CT ($106,855 → $125,431), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +18.8% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
- Waterbury, CT: 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
| Reno, NV | Waterbury, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,776 in Waterbury | $101,239 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,445/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $51,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Waterbury-Shelton, CT MSA. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Waterbury-Shelton, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 89.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 147.6 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Waterbury, CT
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$3,925/yr.
73 Strong offer
Waterbury, CT → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$3,925/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Waterbury, CT is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Waterbury, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Waterbury, CT | Real change, Reno → Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $72,737 | +18.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $88,005 | +18.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $105,481 | +18.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $125,431 | +18.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $148,222 | +18.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $79,640 | $80,627 (+29.1%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $131,290 | $132,916 (+5.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $93,010 | $94,162 (+14.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $101,690 | $102,950 (−4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.