Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Reno to Los Angeles
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Reno and Los Angeles have nearly identical median household incomes ($80,760 vs $81,939), but Los Angeles demands significantly higher housing costs: median gross rent is $377 more per month and median home value is $372,900 higher. Reno’s shorter commute (22 vs 33 minutes) and lack of a modeled state income tax in its profile improve its net affordability, while Los Angeles applies a 9.30% state income tax reference in calculations. These trade-offs highlight how identical incomes yield divergent disposable income after housing and tax burdens, with Reno offering lower housing costs and shorter commutes, and Los Angeles reflecting higher urban premiums despite similar earnings.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → RenoMoving from Reno to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$377/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$4,524 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+11 min / day
Difference of ~92 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTREN → LAX
40/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$2,556after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Reno is about $4,524 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Reno household income$80,760
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Reno gross rent$1,556
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Reno | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 273,212 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $80,760 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,556 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $548,300 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 22 minutes in Reno and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income nearly equal
- Los Angeles rent $377/month higher
- Los Angeles home value $372,900 higher
- Reno has 11-minute shorter commute
- Los Angeles applies 9.30% state tax reference
- Uniform non-housing baseline $1,250/month for both
What each city wins
Reno
Median rent is 23% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden but high home values limit purchase affordability..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has higher housing costs relative to income?
Los Angeles has substantially higher housing costs relative to income: median gross rent consumes 28.3% of income versus Reno’s 23.1%, and median home value is 11.2 times income in Los Angeles compared to 6.8 times in Reno.
How does commute time affect the comparison between the two cities?
Reno’s average one-way commute is 22 minutes, 11 minutes shorter than Los Angeles’ 33 minutes, translating to over 90 fewer hours annually spent commuting, which improves time efficiency and reduces transportation stress despite similar income levels.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.