on $100k a year, leaving San Jose

change
Reno, NV cityscape

from san jose

Reno

nv · metro 565k

a dispatch from

reno

NV

39.53°N

119.81°W

Reno calls itself the Biggest Little City in the World and means it: casinos and neon, sure, but also a quietly cool downtown, a strong outdoor culture (Tahoe is 45 minutes south), and the Truckee River running right through the middle of everything. The University of Nevada keeps things young. Burning Man buses depart from here every August. Sunnier and drier than people expect.

metro565k

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,337

lighter monthly cost than San Jose

Reno is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
landable, recorded on the reno entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,908/mo

45% cheaper than San Jose(vs $3,470/mo)

02state income tax

0%

$775/mo less in state tax than San Jose

vs 9.3% in San Jose

03after rent

$6,425/mo

$2,337 more than San Jose

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$574k

68% cheaper than San Jose

vs $1796k in San Jose

05metro size

565k

vs 1.9M in San Jose

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

201

pleasant days a year, in reno.

San Jose has the edge here, logging 283 pleasant days a year. Cold snaps are part of the year: 28 days below 20° here, 0 in San Jose.

66% more happening than in San Jose.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

71/100

1% higher than San Jose

vs 70/100 in San Jose

Closest outdoor draw: Tahoe National Forest, 20.1 mi.

·walk score®

95/100

0% lower than San Jose

vs 95/100 in San Jose

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

13

55% fewer than San Jose

vs 29 nonstops in San Jose

04 · see also

if reno appeals, also worth a look: