Median rent is 23% lower in Reno ($1,453/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Reno, where the median home runs $498,600 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $78,448 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Reno, NV
How much would you need to earn in Reno, NV to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Reno
Nevada
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Reno — median rent of $1,453/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 23% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $498,600 in Reno — 43% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Nevada has no state income tax, while California tops out at 13.30% — giving Reno a clear advantage for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 6.85% in Nevada; Reno has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Reno
Income tax: None
Sales tax: 6.85%
Reno has cleaner air on average: 26.0 AQI (Good) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Reno if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,453/mo median).
Pick Reno if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 26.0).
Pick Reno if you prioritize no state income tax.
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Reno?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Reno?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,453/mo in Reno, NV. Reno, NV has the lower rent by about 23%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Reno?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $78,448 in Reno, NV. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Reno, NV has better air quality on average: 26.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Reno?
Nevada has no state income tax. California has a top rate of 13.30%.
What salary do I need in Reno to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology