Overall
99.8
-0.2 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Visalia, CA
Cost-of-living indicators for Visalia, CA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 99.8
- Overall RPP
- #92
- of 387 metros
- 84.1
- Rents RPP
- $100K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Visalia costs less than 24% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 99.8, 0.2% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 156.4.
- 99.8
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #92
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 76%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 84.1
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $100,175 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $99,825.
What the Numbers Mean for Visalia
Visalia ranks #92 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 99.8, Visalia, CA is 0.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Visalia's most and least expensive categories — services at 156.4 versus rents at 84.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $100,175 inside Visalia, while a household needs roughly $99,825 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 84.1 — 15.9% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Visalia's overall index has risen by 5.0 points, signaling tightening affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 105.2 and services at 156.4, meaning everyday spending in Visalia is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Visalia vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
100 Top 24% higher than 76% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Visalia cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
84.1 RPP
- Services
Services
156.4 RPP
- Overall
Overall
99.8 RPP
- Goods
Goods
105.2 RPP
What this shows Visalia's gap from the national average is led by services at 156.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Visalia's cost comes from
Metros near Visalia's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 100.4, rents 102.6). Visalia is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Visalia's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
105.2
+5.2 above avg
Services
156.4
+56.4 above avg
Rents
84.1
-15.9 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$99,825
in Visalia, CA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,913
$75,000 nationally
$74,869
$125,000 nationally
$124,781
$150,000 nationally
$149,738
$200,000 nationally
$199,650
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending upward, increasing by 5.0 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 |
| 2009 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 98.4 |
| 2012 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 99.6 |
| 2020 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 98.9 |
| 2022 | 102.4 |
| 2023 | 101.5 |
| 2024 | 99.8 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Visalia, CA's index of 99.8.
Other CA Metros
What this means for Visalia
How to read Visalia's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $100,175 in Visalia. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 84.1 (15.9% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $69,489; adjusted for Visalia's price level that is about $69,611 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Visalia head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Visalia, CA? ▼
Visalia, CA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 99.8, meaning it is 0.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 105.2, services at 156.4, and rents at 84.1. It ranks #92 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Visalia, CA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $99,825 in Visalia, CA. Conversely, $100K earned in Visalia, CA has the purchasing power of $100,175 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Visalia, CA? ▼
Rents in Visalia, CA are indexed at 84.1, which is 15.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Visalia, CA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Visalia, CA's overall cost index changed by +5.0 points (from 94.9 to 99.8). The cost of living has been trending upward.
What costs the most in Visalia, CA? ▼
The most expensive category in Visalia, CA is services at 156.4, which is 56.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 84.1, 15.9% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Visalia, CA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Waterbury-Shelton, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Visalia, CA's 99.8.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
