The Reno metro has a Census median gross rent of $1,592, a median home value of $502,300 and a median household income of $87,485. The Bay Area's San Jose metro, at $2,840 rent, $1,447,800 home value and $162,111 income, sits well above those numbers on all three.
The table above lists the Reno metro first, then the metros the data set tracks as origins and destinations for moves to and from Northern Nevada, using the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates. Rent, home value and income are medians, so they describe the middle household, not an average.
Sacramento has a median rent of $1,819, a median home value of $589,500 and a median household income of $97,188. San Francisco-Oakland shows $2,474, $1,140,700 and $136,027. Los Angeles shows $2,063, $871,300 and $95,958 and San Diego $2,246, $854,700 and $106,268. Stockton is closer to Reno at $1,734, $530,700 and $92,179, and Fresno and Bakersfield sit below it for rent at $1,392 and $1,300.
Dividing median home value by median household income gives a rough affordability ratio. Reno is about 5.7 times income, Sacramento about 6.1, San Francisco about 8.4 and San Jose about 8.9. These are ratios of medians from different households, so use them only for comparison.
O'Brien's and Bekins trucks parked in a snowy yard in the 1950s
Western neighbors
Las Vegas has a median rent of $1,626 and a median home value of $431,000, with an income of $76,472, so rent is close to Reno's and the home value is lower. Boise is at $1,487, $468,900 and $85,987. Phoenix is at $1,702, $440,900 and $88,301, Salt Lake City at $1,583, $515,400 and $98,083, and Spokane at $1,264, $405,300 and $77,488. Seattle's rent of $2,000 and home value of $717,500 are above Reno's.
Denver ($1,874 rent, $603,800 home value) and Portland ($1,724, $559,400) are also above Reno on rent and value.
Texas, the Midwest and the South
Dallas-Fort Worth has a median rent of $1,614, close to Reno's, but a home value of $359,500, about 28 percent below Reno's. Austin has $1,726 and $465,000 and Houston $1,430 and $298,000. Chicago shows $1,430 and $323,000, Kansas City $1,249 and $287,300, and Oklahoma City $1,124 and $230,000. Tucson, Albuquerque and El Paso fall further, with El Paso's home value at $180,200.
For a household leaving a lower-value metro, Reno's housing numbers can come as a surprise even when moving costs are not.
What 'cost of living' leaves out
The table covers housing and income only. It leaves out groceries, utilities, state and local taxes, insurance, transportation and wages for your specific job, all of which change the real cost of a place. Nevada's lack of a state income tax is covered on the state tax and DMV table. The cost-of-living compare tool and the cost of living guide cover more.
Also, rent is the median across all renters, including long-time tenants, so asking rents for a new lease may run differently from the median shown.
An old framed photo of three people beside a car with a Bekins plate
Reading medians with care
Metro boundaries are Census definitions, such as the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom area, not city limits. Each figure comes with a margin of error that this table does not print, small for big metros and larger for smaller ones. The values describe 2020-2024, an average of five survey years.
On the Census medians in this table, yes for housing: Reno's median rent is $1,592 and home value is $502,300, against $1,819 and $589,500 for Sacramento and $2,474 and $1,140,700 for the San Francisco area.
Is Reno cheaper than Las Vegas?
Rent is close, at $1,592 in Reno and $1,626 in Las Vegas. Las Vegas has the lower median home value ($431,000 against $502,300) and a lower median household income ($76,472 against $87,485).
What is a median?
The middle value: half the households pay more and half pay less. It is less affected by a few very high or low numbers than an average.
Does this table include taxes?
No. See the state tax and DMV table for income and sales tax rates.
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Owner's reply
Christy thank you so much, not just for the 5 star review but also for continuing to stay a O'Brien's Customer. We appreciate your repeat business and you know we love talking with you anytime! You know where to find us when you need us!
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Owner's reply
Jessica, thank you so much for the kind words. We love the Girl Scout cookie distribution time. It gives us the chance to interact with you ladies that are out there making a difference in our community every day! Thank you for everything you do.
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Owner's reply
Ami thank you so much! It was a pleasure to assist you with your move and knowing that we were able to lessen any stress you may have had with the moving process, makes us so happy!! If you need anything in the future please let us know.
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