City comparison
Albany, NY vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 3.6% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $103,600 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,417 a month in Albany, NY and $1,382 in Springfield, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.4% moving from Albany, NY to Springfield, MA ($109,810 → $120,094), while prices change by −3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.4% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,480 in Springfield | $103,649 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$80/yr.
80 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$80/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Springfield, MA | Real change, Albany → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $69,642 | +13.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $84,260 | +13.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $100,992 | +13.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $120,094 | +13.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $141,915 | +13.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $79,640 | $82,546 (+4.2%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $127,740 | $132,401 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $92,010 | $95,367 (+12.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $98,410 | $102,001 (+2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.