City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 5.5% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $105,500 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,860 in NY.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Charleston, SC to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by +5.5%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Charleston, SC | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,830 in Syracuse | $105,452 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
86 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Charleston, SC to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Charleston → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +5.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +5.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +5.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +5.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +5.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $78,560 | $82,843 (+35.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $129,100 | $136,139 (+3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $82,230 | $86,713 (+9.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $86,960 | $91,701 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.