City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Indianapolis, IN (95.7) and Syracuse, NY (95.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN goes as far as $100,000 in Syracuse, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,939 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Syracuse, NY ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.0% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (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
| Indianapolis, IN | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,048 in Syracuse | $99,952 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,939/yr.
69 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,939/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Indianapolis → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | −1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | −1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | −1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | −1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | −1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $78,560 | $78,522 (+29.8%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $129,100 | $129,038 (+20.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $82,230 | $82,190 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $86,960 | $86,918 (+3.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.