Moving to Reno is worth considering if you enjoy the outdoors and a thriving local arts scene. However, you’ll also need to be able to tolerate the higher cost of living, the variable weather, and its popularity as a tourist destination.

Reno has long been known for its casinos, but in recent years, this place is growing in popularity for its outdoor recreation opportunities and as a site for various startups.

Relocating to any new place is always a gamble, but if you’re wondering whether you’ll enjoy living in Reno, you probably don’t want to leave your options up to chance. Here to help you weigh some of the pros and cons of moving to Reno is

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What you need to know about Reno before you move

Reno covers more than 111 square miles and is home to more than 250,000 people. If you’ve been considering whether to call Reno home yourself, here’s a look at what you can expect when living in the “Biggest Little City in the World.”

1. It might be more expensive than you’re used to

Depending on where you call home right now, living expenses in Reno could be more expensive than you’re used to. The cost of living in Reno is about 16% more expensive than the national average.

While that still pales in comparison to cities like

New York

Washington, D.C

., or San Francisco, most people will need to plan their budget carefully before officially deciding to relocate.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Reno is nearly $1,600 per month. Prefer to buy a home? The median home sale price here is about $560,000.

Beyond housing costs, a coffee to go or a pint of beer at a local bar could cost $5 to $6. A typical restaurant meal could cost about $65, based on numbers from

Numbeo

On a run for groceries, you could generally expect a gallon of milk to cost $4 to $5, a head of lettuce could cost $2 to $3, a dozen eggs could cost $4 to $6, and a loaf of bread could cost $2 to $3.

The median household income in Reno, as of the 2020 census, was $61,860, and the minimum wage in Nevada recently increased to $10.50 per hour. Meanwhile, data from MIT’s

Living Wage Calculator

shows that a single adult would typically want to earn a minimum of $16.06 per hour to live comfortably here.

On the bright side? Nevada doesn’t collect personal income tax, so might be able to take home a little more with each paycheck than you’re used to.

2. There’s a growing number of jobs

Overall, Reno’s job market is pretty solid, and the number of jobs available in the area has been on the rise. It’s also growing in popularity as a location of choice for startups.

Its popularity as a gambling and tourist destination means there are almost always openings in the hospitality and gaming sectors. Other major sectors are health care and education, and the tech industry is on the rise here, too.

3. Outdoor recreation is year-round

There are all kinds of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Reno, regardless of the time of year.

The Truckee River runs right through the city and is popular for fly fishing and kayaking. If you prefer to keep your explorations on land, there are

plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails

in and around the city (including among the Sierra Nevada mountains) with varying levels of accessibility.

You’ll also have your pick of 87 public parks—and if you’re like 75% of Reno residents and own a pet, you’ll be glad to know that includes dog parks, too.

Lake lovers should also know that Reno is just under an hour’s drive from Lake Tahoe. In the summer, you can head here for swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. Come winter, you can hit the slopes here for skiing and snowboarding.

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4. You’ll need to be able to tolerate tourists

There’s a lot to like about spending time in Reno—which is what makes it a popular destination for millions of tourists each year. There are definitely advantages to this, like the fact that the tourism industry brings millions of dollars to the local economy.

But that also means you’ll have to be able to tolerate some of the setbacks that can come with living in a tourist town: you might come across chaotic drivers who aren’t familiar with local roads, it might be harder to score a reservation at your favorite restaurant, and living costs for locals can get more expensive.

5. Driving is usually your best bet

Compared to Las Vegas,

traffic congestion in Reno

isn’t quite as bad. The average commute time is about 18.6 minutes, which is about 7 minutes faster than the national average.

That said, drivers here still lose an average of 16 hours to congested traffic each year, according to INRIX’s

Global Traffic Scorecard

. Based on their data, Reno is ranked as the 67th-most congested city in the United States.

But Reno covers an area of over 111 square miles, meaning sometimes, driving will in many cases be your best transportation option.

If you don’t have a vehicle of your own, the

Regional Transportation Commission (RTC)

has bus routes serving Reno, Sparks, and the larger Washoe County. Looking for a ride to Lake Tahoe? There are

shuttles

that can take you there, too! There’s also an extensive network of

biking trails

throughout the city.

MORE: How to find the best Reno towing service

6. The weather will keep you guessing

Largely thanks to Reno’s high elevation (about 4,500 feet), the weather here can be highly variable. That means you might have to take the weekly forecast with a grain of salt. Don’t completely count out the possibility of getting snow in June!

There are some things you can generally count on, however. Average summer highs in Reno can extend into the 90s, but the air is drier here, so you generally won’t have to worry about excess humidity making it feel hotter than it is.

During the coldest months of the year, average low temperatures dip into the low 20s, and the area gets an average of 22 inches of snow in a year.

7. It’s a great place for art lovers

Plenty of cities dedicate a weekend—or even a week—here and there to celebrate the arts. But for the entire month of July, Reno hosts

Artown

, a festival packed with performances and exhibitions that showcase artists from all kinds of backgrounds. That includes music, theater, dance, film, and more. Beyond Artown, there are tons of arts and entertainment events year-round, meaning there’s almost always something to do or experience in Reno.

Does Reno live up to the hype?

Reno has a lot to offer, depending on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy the outdoors, you’ll be sure to appreciate the Truckee River that runs through the city and the view of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the west. You’ll also be in close proximity to Lake Tahoe.

Beyond that, the city boasts a fairly healthy job market that continues to grow, and the thriving local arts and culture scene means there’s almost always something to do.

You’ll also have to be able to tolerate the unpredictable weather, the higher cost of living, and the drawbacks that can come with living in a tourist town.

If all this sounds fine to you, it might just be worth placing your bets on a move to Reno.

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Finding a place to live in Reno

The most challenging part of any move is arguably finding the right place to live—and how expensive your next home will be will largely depend on whether you decide to buy or rent.

If you plan to buy your next home, you might need to provide a hefty down payment. As of August 2022, the median home sale price in Reno was about $560,000, according to

realtor.com

. The median list price was about $599,000, compared to a national average of about $435,000.

The median home ownership costs for Reno residents who have mortgages is about $1,726, according to 2020 census data.

While living costs in Reno are generally more expensive than the national average, the average cost for a one-bedroom here is actually slightly lower at about $1,550 per month. For comparison, the national average is about $1,700 per month, according to

rent.com

But there’s plenty of room for variation here depending on the size of your apartment and the neighborhood you choose. The average three-bedroom in Reno costs about $2,400 per month, while the average studio costs about $1,235. A one-bedroom in the Virginia Foothills neighborhood could cost closer to $1,900, while in the Reno foothills, you might find an apartment for under $1,000.

So, where should you even begin when trying to choose what neighborhood in Reno to live in? A good first step would be to establish a budget and to see what kinds of options would be available to you. To narrow your options down further, prioritize the neighborhoods that offer what’s most important to you, whether that’s living within walking distance to the dog park or proximity to some of the best restaurants.

As you evaluate your options, here are some Reno neighborhoods worth looking into:

Most iconic neighborhoods: Midtown, Downtown, Riverwalk District

Best neighborhoods if you’ve got kids: Copper Knolls, Caughlin Ranch, Virginia Foothills

Best neighborhoods for foodies: Riverwalk District, Arch District, Wells District, Midtown

Best neighborhoods to buy a house: West University, Midtown, Lemmon Valley

Most affordable neighborhoods: West University, Panther Valley, Convention Regional Center

Before settling on any particular neighborhood, be sure to visit the ones you’re considering in person. That way, you can get a sense of the general atmosphere, what’s nearby, and whether it feels like a good fit for your lifestyle.

MORE:

Cheap car insurance if you rent an apartment

Moving to Reno checklist

If you’ve officially found a place to live in Reno, congratulations—you’ve tackled one of the hardest parts of relocating! Now, you’ll have to prepare for the next-hardest part: the actual move.

Whether you’re moving from 50 miles away or 500, moving can be a challenge. To ensure yours goes as smoothly as possible, here are some items you might want to add to your moving to Reno checklist.

Before you go

Before you get to packing and loading up all those boxes, be sure to:

Find a

reputable moving company

and reserve a moving date early on—if you’re not sure where to start, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers

plenty of helpful tips

for finding the right movers and avoiding scams.

If you’re planning a DIY-style move, reserve a moving truck instead (and be sure you know

how to drive your U-Haul

Will this be a long-distance move? If so, consider whether it will be ideal for you to drive or

ship your car

Update your address and set up mail forwarding with

USPS

so you don’t miss any important communications.

Let important contacts know you’re moving

—this would include your landlord, your employer, your insurance provider(s), and utility provider(s).

Confirm that your new

renters

homeowners insurance policy

will be active and ready to go once you’re officially moved into your new Reno home.

After you get there

In addition to all that unpacking, there are a couple more items you’ll need to take care of as you settle into your new place in Reno:

If you moved to Reno from

out of state

, you’ll have to

re-register your car

in Nevada and

update your car insurance

, if you haven’t already.

Explore your new home! You placed your bets on Reno, and now it’s time to cash them in. Take your time getting to know your new city and all its offerings, from outdoor recreation to the best local entertainment options.

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How to save on car, renters, and home insurance in Reno

Living in Reno can be a little more expensive than what’s considered average—which is all the more reason to make sure you’re not overpaying for your

home

, renters, or even

car insurance in Reno

. Luckily, the

Jerry

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Whatever coverage you’re looking for, all it takes is answering a few basic questions in the app—which takes less than a minute. From there, Jerry can gather you customized quotes from up to 50+ top insurance providers in an instant, and you can compare your options all in one spot, right at your fingertips.

When it comes to car insurance alone, Jerry users save over $800 per year on average. We can even help you

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How much time and money could you save with Jerry? You’ll have to get started to find out.

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FAQs

Is it worth moving to Reno?

Whether it’s worth it to move to Reno depends on your budget and what you’re looking for in a lifestyle. For outdoors and art enthusiasts, the Reno area has a lot to offer. However, the cost of living here is more expensive than the national average, so you’ll definitely want to take your potential earnings into account.

How much money do I need to move to Reno?

Moving to Reno could cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand depending on factors like the size and distance of your move and whether or not you hire professionals to help you.

When it comes to living in Reno, how much you’ll need to earn depends on your lifestyle and your household makeup. Data from MIT’s

Living Wage Calculator

suggests a single adult without children would need to earn at least $16.06 per hour to live comfortably in Reno, which comes out to about $33,405 per year.

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