Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rutland?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Reno vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 30% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Reno, NV

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$964

$893

+7% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$856

+29% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,097

+28% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,207

+36% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$176,400

+65% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$55,000

+30% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

48.5 yr

+11.2 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

49.4%

52.7%

+3.3 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

32.2%

+3.5 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.6 min

14.7 min

+5.9 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

487.8

+8% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

2,489.3

3,973.3

+60% in Rutland, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.8°F

44.6°F

+9.2°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

40.5 in

+33.1 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

24.4

+86% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$26.07

+89% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / VT)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Reno vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rutland?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).