California
CA • West
Quality of Life Score
50.49
State Comparison
California vs Nevada
Nevada is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Nevada, California has higher incomes, Nevada has lower state income tax, and Nevada gets more sunshine.
California
14
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Nevada
16
/ 30
metrics won
NV wins Housing
NV wins Quality of Life
CA wins Climate
CA wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
California
winner
vs
Nevada
California scores higher on quality of life — 5.88 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Nevada is 35.1 points cheaper overall
Nevada has the lower cost-of-living index. Nevada is at 103.4, while California is at 138.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $12.20 further in Nevada
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $104.51 of local buying power in Nevada, versus $92.31 in California.
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Income
California income is 16.3% higher
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, compared with $72,281 in Nevada.
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Jobs
California minimum wage is $4.50 higher
California has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.50/hr, compared with $12.00/hr in Nevada.
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Housing
California homes cost about 1.8x more
Nevada has the lower median home value at $381,600, versus $693,700 in California.
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Taxes
Nevada has lower state income tax
Nevada has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 13.30% in California.
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California
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 13.3%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
Nevada
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (none)
- —
- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (113.4 for California, 101.2 for Nevada). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
California
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: California
- California shows higher median income.
- California has a lower violent crime rate.
- California job growth trend is stronger.
- California health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- California health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- California education proxy is higher.
Cons
- California has a higher overall cost of living.
- California has a higher housing cost index.
- California has higher median home values.
- California has higher property tax rates on average.
- California has fewer sunny days.
Nevada
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Nevada
- Nevada has a lower overall cost of living.
- Nevada has a lower housing cost index.
- Nevada has lower median home values.
- Nevada has lower property tax rates on average.
- Nevada has more sunny days.
Cons
- Nevada shows lower median income.
- Nevada has a higher violent crime rate.
- Nevada job growth trend is weaker.
- Nevada health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Nevada health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Nevada education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
CA
|
NV
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Sacramento | Carson City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Blue | Swing State |
|
Population
|
39,538,223
|
3,104,614
|
|
Median Income
|
$84,097
|
$72,281
|
|
Cost of Living
|
138.5
|
103.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$693,700
|
$381,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.70%
|
0.47%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
13.30%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$16.50/hr
|
$12.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$5.929/gal
|
$5.005/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
30.29 c/kWh
|
13.98 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
50.49
|
44.61
|
|
Average Temperature
|
59.4°F
|
49.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
146 days
|
158 days
|
|
Land Area
|
163,696 sq mi
|
110,572 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
241.5 per sq mi
|
28.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
September 9, 1850 (#31)
|
October 31, 1864 (#36)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
18
shown
Saving Money
Nevada is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.4 vs 138.5 in California. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Nevada is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $5.005/gal in Nevada vs $5.929/gal in California. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
California has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California vs $12.00/hr in Nevada. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Nevada has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 13.98 c/kWh in Nevada vs 30.29 c/kWh in California. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Nevada is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 5.28x in Nevada vs 8.25x in California. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Nevada is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 22.0% in Nevada vs 26.5% in California. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
California has a larger population than Nevada by 36,433,609 people.
Population Density
California is more densely populated than Nevada.
Bachelor's Degree
California has a higher college-educated share than Nevada.
Advanced Degree
California has a higher advanced-degree share than Nevada.
People Also Ask
California vs Nevada - Common Questions
Q Is California cheaper to live in than Nevada?
Nevada has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Nevada scores 103.4 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 35.1 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - California or Nevada?
$100 goes further in Nevada. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $104.51 in Nevada, compared with $92.31 in California.
Q Which state is bigger - California or Nevada?
California is larger, covering 163,696 sq mi compared with 110,572 sq mi for Nevada - roughly 1.5x the size.
Q Does California or Nevada have more people?
California has the larger population at 39,538,223, compared with 3,104,614 in Nevada.
Q Which state has higher household income - California or Nevada?
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, versus $72,281 in Nevada.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - California or Nevada?
Nevada has no state income tax, while California charges up to 13.30%.
Q Is housing cheaper in California or Nevada?
Homes are cheaper in Nevada, where the median home value is $381,600, versus $693,700 in California.
Q Which state is more densely populated - California or Nevada?
California is more densely populated at 241.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Nevada is more spread out at 28.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.