City comparison
Albany, NY vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albany, NY (99.6) and Spokane, WA (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albany, NY goes as far as $100,800 in Spokane, WA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.6% moving from Albany, NY to Spokane, WA ($109,810 → $106,991), while prices change by +0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.3% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,783 in Spokane | $99,223 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Spokane, WA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
66 Fair offer
Spokane, WA → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
71 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Spokane, WA | Real change, Albany → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $62,044 | −3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $75,068 | −3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,974 | −3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,991 | −3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $126,432 | −3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $103,890 | $106,190 | $105,365 (+1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $130,690 | $129,674 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $86,350 | $85,679 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $111,750 | $110,881 (+10.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.