City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albuquerque, NM (95.5) and Syracuse, NY (95.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albuquerque, NM goes as far as $100,200 in Syracuse, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,291 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Albuquerque, NM.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Syracuse, NY ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.3% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,205 in Syracuse | $99,795 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,291/yr.
68 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Albuquerque, NM
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,291/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Albuquerque → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $78,560 | $78,399 (+3.8%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $129,100 | $128,836 (+4.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $82,230 | $82,062 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $86,960 | $86,782 (−9.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.