Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of natural gas costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Reno?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Reno?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 6% higher in Reno, NV. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$964

+11% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,206

+2% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,518

+8% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,885

+4% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$498,600

+80% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$78,448

+7% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,660

+3% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

37.3 yr

+3.7 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

54.8%

49.4%

+5.4 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

35.7%

+2.6 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

26.7 min

20.6 min

+6.1 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

528.9

+7% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,434.5

2,489.3

+2% in Reno, NV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

53.8°F

+11.6°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

7.4 in

+32.2 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+41% in Reno, NV

Area: Texas vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

13.6

+17% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$12.09

+60% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

Average prices — South vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NV)

6.25%

6.85%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Arlington vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Reno?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).