CostIndexUSA

Detroit, MI vs Visalia, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMI
Detroit
100.3
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
CA
Visalia
99.8
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Detroit and Visalia have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.2%
Detroit
94.7
Visalia
84.1
🛒 Groceries+6.5%
Detroit
98.8
Visalia
105.2
🚗 Transportation2.2%
Detroit
107.7
Visalia
105.3
🏥 Healthcare2.3%
Detroit
97.5
Visalia
95.3
Utilities+46.2%
Detroit
107
Visalia
156.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Visalia, CA
$79,600
$400 less needed in Visalia

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 100.3) = salary × 0.9950. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Detroit, MI

Median Home Price
$254,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
94.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

Visalia, CA

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

Detroit has 11.2% lower housing costs compared to Visalia.

Income & Job Market

Detroit, MI

Median Household Income
$72,600
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
672,795
Top Industries
AutomotiveHealthcareTechnologyFinanceManufacturing

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).

Detroit, MI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.