City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rochester, NY are 4.5% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $104,500 in Rochester, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,256 in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Rochester, NY than in Greensboro, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Greensboro, NC to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.6% in real buying power.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greensboro, NC | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,490 in Rochester | $95,703 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Rochester, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
55 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greensboro, NC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Greensboro, NC to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Rochester, NY | Real change, Greensboro → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | −3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | −3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | −3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | −3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | −3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $62,840 | $60,140 (+0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $122,770 | $117,494 (−6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $80,890 | $77,414 (−3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $86,570 | $82,850 (−0.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.