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City Housing Verdict

Reno, NV

High Pressure

Living in Reno, NV costs about 33% more than the national average (Cost Index: 133). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $559,591 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $78,448, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Reno already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 28% rent burden, 7.1x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 184. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Reno.

Monthly Housing
$1,830/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
28%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,207/mo
After housing and debt · $1,402/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: HighHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ZILLOWBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 36%
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Cost Index
133
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$559,591
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $498,600
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,830/mo
Zillow ZORI Market Rate • Census ACS: $1,453/mo
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$78,448
National: $78,538
Population
268,959
Purchasing Power
75
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
184 / 100
84% above average
Rent Index
136 / 100
36% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
89 / 100
11% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
133
Very Expensive · 33% above average

Reno Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $559,591 and Nevada's property tax rate of 0.53%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$78,448
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
28%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
7.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Reno looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Reno, NV

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,966
Monthly Impact
$247
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.53%
National avg: ~1.00%

Nevada Place Tax Context

Tax TypeNevadaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.53%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.23%~5.0%

Compare Reno to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Reno, NV
133
136
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Reno, NV: 184
Rent Prices
136

FAQ: Living in Reno

Is Reno, NV an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Reno is about 33% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 133. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $559,591, and monthly rents average roughly $1,830. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Reno fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,830, while local median household income is $78,448. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 28% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Reno, NV?+

Nevada is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.53%. On a home worth $559,591, that translates to roughly $2,966 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.23% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Reno, NV?+

The typical monthly rent in Reno is around $1,830. That's about 36% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $559,591, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Reno, NV?+

The median home in Reno is valued at $559,591. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,830/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 49% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Reno?+

Grocery prices in Reno are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 89). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Reno, NV like to live in?+

Reno is a mid-sized city with a population of about 268,959. The median age of residents is 37.3, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 12.49%, near the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Nevada

If Reno feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Nevada

Use these city pages when you want to compare Reno against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly