City comparison
Columbia, SC vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbia, SC are 1.1% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $101,100 in Columbia, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,164 a month in Columbia, SC versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbia, SC and 15% in Utica, 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 Columbia, SC to Utica, NY changes real buying power by +1.1%, purely from prices.
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbia, SC | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.7 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,949 in Utica | $101,062 in Columbia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,164/mo | $926/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 | 19% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,430 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Columbia, SC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbia | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.5 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 93.7 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbia, SC → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
72 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Columbia, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
65 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 Columbia, SC to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbia, SC | Utica, NY | Real change, Columbia → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbia, SC | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Columbia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | $77,010 | $77,828 (+29.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,380 | $113,390 | $114,594 (−7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $79,830 | $80,678 (+16.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,920 | $94,300 | $95,301 (+16.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.