Visalia, CA vs El Centro, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, El Centro, CA is 4.7% less expensive than Visalia, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Visalia works out to about $71,500 in El Centro, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.2% less in El Centro. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in El Centro and $1,734 in Visalia, $828 a year more in El Centro (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $382,000 in El Centro and $361,000 in Visalia.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.2%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.2% lower in El Centro than in Visalia
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.8 | 95.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 84.1 | 66.3 |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 157.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Visalia | El Centro | El Centro vs Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.8 | 95.2 | −4.7% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 84.1 | 66.3 | −21.2% |
| Utilities | 156.4 | 157.2 | +0.5% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,734 | $1,803 | +4.0% |
| Typical home value | $361,000 | $382,000 | +5.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Visalia | $75,000 | $71,500 | −4.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Visalia and El Centro has widened since 2008: 0.4 points then, 4.7 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.9 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 96.4 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 98.4 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 94.3 |
| 2014 | 97.2 | 91.8 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 94.5 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 95.7 |
| 2017 | 96.5 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 99.6 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 96.9 |
| 2021 | 98.9 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 102.4 | 100.0 |
| 2023 | 101.5 | 100.2 |
| 2024 | 99.8 | 95.2 |
Goods
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 98.6 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.9 | 72.5 |
| 2009 | 86.8 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 86.2 | 80.6 |
| 2011 | 84.9 | 75.4 |
| 2012 | 85.2 | 81.4 |
| 2013 | 83.4 | 78.8 |
| 2014 | 84.3 | 66.9 |
| 2015 | 81.2 | 68.5 |
| 2016 | 80.7 | 80.9 |
| 2017 | 81.4 | 70.0 |
| 2018 | 80.9 | 56.5 |
| 2019 | 81.4 | 67.8 |
| 2020 | 80.4 | 76.2 |
| 2021 | 81.5 | 67.0 |
| 2022 | 82.1 | 74.0 |
| 2023 | 82.8 | 77.7 |
| 2024 | 84.1 | 66.3 |
Utilities
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.4 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 110.0 | 104.6 |
| 2011 | 111.9 | 110.2 |
| 2012 | 114.4 | 106.4 |
| 2013 | 114.0 | 106.0 |
| 2014 | 120.2 | 105.6 |
| 2015 | 121.7 | 107.7 |
| 2016 | 118.2 | 120.2 |
| 2017 | 112.0 | 117.1 |
| 2018 | 121.5 | 121.4 |
| 2019 | 129.8 | 128.1 |
| 2020 | 134.6 | 131.9 |
| 2021 | 143.8 | 141.0 |
| 2022 | 148.5 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 147.0 | 138.6 |
| 2024 | 156.4 | 157.2 |
Other services
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 102.8 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 99.0 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in El Centro vs $1,734 in Visalia
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $919 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $934 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $948 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $952 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $947 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $978 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $968 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $986 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $996 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,018 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,018 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,030 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,036 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,052 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,055 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,062 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,074 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,086 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,110 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,101 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,126 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,126 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,179 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,190 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,244 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,315 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,360 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,467 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,446 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,503 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,531 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,501 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,535 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,524 | $1,419 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,539 | $1,485 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,557 | $1,482 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,568 | $1,572 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,612 | $1,532 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,612 | $1,538 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,633 | $1,640 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,637 | $1,652 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,662 | $1,659 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,691 | $1,697 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,670 | $1,694 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,688 | $1,743 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,719 | $1,808 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,734 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $382,000 in El Centro vs $361,000 in Visalia
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Visalia, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Visalia, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $173K | $175K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $176K | $181K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $177K | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $176K | $190K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $181K | $194K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $187K | $197K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $191K | $198K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $197K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $203K | $204K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $206K | $210K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $210K | $212K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $215K | $216K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $219K | $218K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $221K | $222K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $224K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $227K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $231K | $229K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $234K | $237K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $235K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $240K | $247K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $243K | $248K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $244K | $251K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $250K | $258K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $264K | $263K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $276K | $270K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $289K | $279K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $301K | $290K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $310K | $298K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $324K | $305K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $337K | $312K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $340K | $312K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $336K | $308K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $330K | $313K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $332K | $319K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $338K | $324K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $340K | $328K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $343K | $334K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $348K | $340K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $350K | $343K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $353K | $349K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $356K | $354K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $357K | $357K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $354K | $365K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $357K | $373K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $359K | $379K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $359K | $380K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $361K | $382K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.