City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 2.9% higher than in Huntsville, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntsville, AL would need about $102,900 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,136 a month in Huntsville, AL and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Huntsville, AL to Syracuse, NY ($110,847 → $106,437), while prices change by +2.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.7% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (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
| Huntsville, AL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,869 in Syracuse | $97,211 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
60 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Huntsville, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Huntsville → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $61,722 | −6.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $74,678 | −6.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $89,508 | −6.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $106,437 | −6.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $125,776 | −6.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $78,560 | $76,369 (+22.7%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $129,100 | $125,500 (−2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $82,230 | $79,937 (+0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $86,960 | $84,535 (+9.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.