Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or Worcester?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Reno vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 14% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Reno, NV

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$964

$1,087

+13% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$1,028

+15% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,476

+3% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,675

+11% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$339,500

+32% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$67,544

+14% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$57,830

+16% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

34.1 yr

+3.2 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

49.4%

42.4%

+7.0 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

34.1%

+1.6 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.6 min

25.1 min

+4.5 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

640.2

+21% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

2,489.3

1,580.3

+37% 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

53.8°F

47.9°F

+5.9°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

48.1 in

+40.7 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.07/gal

+22% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

29.6

+126% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$30.66

+122% in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

6.85%

6.25%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Reno vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Worcester?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).