CostIndexUSA

Salinas, CA vs Visalia, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Salinas
109
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Visalia is moderately cheaper than Salinas — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salinas, you would need $73,200 in Visalia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing42.3%
Salinas
145.7
Visalia
84.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Salinas
105.2
Visalia
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Salinas
105.3
Visalia
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Salinas
95.3
Visalia
95.3
Utilities+1.4%
Salinas
154.2
Visalia
156.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Salinas to see what you'd need to earn in Visalia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Visalia, CA
$73,200
$6,800 less needed in Visalia

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 109) = salary × 0.9156. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salinas, CA

Median Home Price
$826,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
145.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.9×

Visalia, CA

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
84.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Salinas has 42.3% lower housing costs compared to Visalia.

Income & Job Market

Salinas, CA

Median Household Income
$88,000
Per Capita Income
$50,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
163,542
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducation

Visalia, CA

Median Household Income
$73,100
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
8.2%
Population
141,384
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Salinas, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% of income left after rent (median)

Visalia, CA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.