Cost of Living in Visalia, CA
Visalia, CA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Visalia, CA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Visalia, CA?
With a price level of 99.8 (U.S. average = 100), Visalia, CA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 16% below average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities run 56% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Visalia, CA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.8 | −0.2% |
| Housing | 84.1 | −15.9% |
| Goods | 105.2 | +5.2% |
| Utilities | 156.4 | +56.4% |
| Other services | 100.3 | +0.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Visalia, CA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,116 | $44,640/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,123 | $44,920/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,474 | $58,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,028 | $81,120/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,393 | $95,720/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Visalia, CA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Visalia, CA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,900 | $33,136 |
| $60,000 | $59,900 | $47,887 |
| $80,000 | $79,900 | $60,800 |
| $100,000 | $99,800 | $72,690 |
| $150,000 | $149,700 | $101,947 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, California 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Visalia, CA's median wage of $45,130 takes home about $3,088 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,123, which is 36% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,965 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Visalia, CA
- Federal income tax$3,236
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,798
- Medicare (1.45%)$654
- California income tax$795
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$587
- Take-home pay$37,061
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Visalia, CA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $125,180 | $87,787 | $87,941 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $51,530 | $41,773 | $41,846 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,190 | $37,856 | $37,923 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $45,230 | $37,136 | $37,201 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $42,080 | $34,772 | $34,833 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,960 | $33,181 | $33,239 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $38,600 | $32,160 | $32,216 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $38,000 | $31,710 | $31,765 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,990 | $30,201 | $30,254 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $34,800 | $29,308 | $29,359 |
| Cashier | $34,770 | $29,286 | $29,337 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $34,320 | $28,948 | $28,999 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in California cities
Half of California’s 18,213,700 workers earn less than $58,240 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $41,600–$97,880 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: San Jose, CA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Salinas, CA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,850 | 113.6 | $2,245 | 60% | $1,499 | $39,562 |
| San Francisco, CA | $74,260 | 115.6 | $2,620 | 55% | $2,161 | $49,629 |
| Riverside, CA | $48,400 | 106.4 | $1,777 | 54% | $1,514 | $37,097 |
| San Diego, CA | $58,690 | 111.9 | $2,459 | 63% | $1,458 | $42,010 |
| San Jose, CA | $84,050 | 110.4 | $2,957 | 56% | $2,316 | $57,306 |
| Sacramento, CA | $59,750 | 106.7 | $1,812 | 46% | $2,169 | $44,790 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,910 | 102.2 | $1,315 | 41% | $1,885 | $37,586 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $47,470 | 100.9 | $1,140 | 35% | $2,094 | $38,467 |
| Oxnard, CA | $52,510 | 110.5 | $2,250 | 64% | $1,291 | $38,440 |
| Stockton, CA | $48,990 | 105.1 | $1,395 | 42% | $1,931 | $37,985 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $56,850 | 107.8 | $2,155 | 57% | $1,650 | $42,362 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $51,690 | 108.8 | $2,746 | 79% | $745 | $38,503 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,610 | 104.1 | $1,356 | 40% | $2,069 | $39,479 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,380 | 109.0 | $2,232 | 69% | $996 | $35,529 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,130 | 99.8 | $1,123 | 36% | $1,965 | $37,126 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Visalia, CA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
| Mobile, AL | 88.1 | $919 | $47,000 | 172,550 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 101.1 | $1,537 | $55,310 | 169,430 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 98.9 | $1,493 | $47,520 | 168,700 |
| Naples, FL | 103.2 | $1,797 | $47,800 | 173,880 |
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | $915 | $49,940 | 174,550 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Visalia, CA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Visalia, CA metro area are 99.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 84.1%. It is the #92 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Visalia, CA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,895 in Visalia, CA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,130.
Can you afford Visalia, CA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,130 median wage takes home about $3,088 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,123 would take 36% of that.
How much is rent in Visalia, CA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Visalia, CA are $1,116 for a studio, $1,123 for one bedroom, $1,474 for two bedrooms and $2,028 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Visalia, CA
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $98,430
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $45,230
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $125,180
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $38,600
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,990
- Cashier — $34,770
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $46,190
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $51,530
- Stocker and Order Filler — $42,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $39,960