Median rent is 33% lower in Reno ($1,556/mo vs $2,313/mo). Buying is cheaper in Reno, where the median home runs $548,300 versus $906,700. Households earn more in San Diego ($108,077 vs $80,760 a year).
City A
Reno, NV
City B
San Diego, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Diego, CA to maintain your standard of living from Reno, NV?
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 metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Reno
Nevada
San Diego
California
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Reno — median rent of $1,556/mo versus $2,313/mo in San Diego, a 33% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Diego: the median home is $906,700 versus $548,300 in Reno — 40% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Reno
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Diego
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Reno has cleaner air on average: 54.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Diego if you prioritize higher median household income ($108,077/yr).
Pick Reno if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,556/mo median).
Is Reno cheaper than San Diego?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Reno vs San Diego?
Median rent is $1,556/mo in Reno, NV and $2,313/mo in San Diego, CA. Reno, NV has the lower rent by about 33%.
Which has higher salaries — Reno or San Diego?
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno, NV and $108,077 in San Diego, CA. San Diego, 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: 54.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Reno or San Diego?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in San Diego to match my Reno income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
