City comparison
Salinas, CA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salinas, CA are 9.2% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $109,200 in Salinas, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,232 a month in Salinas, CA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 36% of take-home pay in Salinas, CA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −19.6% moving from Salinas, CA to Visalia, CA ($133,060 → $106,973), while prices change by −8.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −12.2% in real buying power.
- Salinas, CA: price level 109.0 (much 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
| Salinas, CA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 109.0 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,547 in Visalia | $109,233 in Salinas |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,232/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 36% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,380 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Salinas, CA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Salinas, CA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salinas | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 145.7 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 154.2 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 109.0 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salinas, CA → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
98 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Salinas, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.5%; rent takes 36% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
26 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salinas, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Salinas, CA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salinas, CA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Salinas → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $62,033 | −12.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $75,055 | −12.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,959 | −12.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,973 | −12.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $126,410 | −12.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salinas, CA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Salinas dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,220 | $98,430 | $107,518 (+7.3%) |
| Software Developers | $135,160 | $126,170 | $137,819 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,810 | $79,400 | $86,731 (+3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $134,910 | $125,180 | $136,738 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.