City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 3.1% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $103,100 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,477 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Lexington, KY.
- 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 Lexington, KY to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by −3.0%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,071 in Syracuse | $97,020 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,477/yr.
59 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,477/yr.
78 Strong 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 Lexington, KY to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Lexington → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $78,560 | $76,219 (+24.0%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $129,100 | $125,253 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $82,230 | $79,780 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $86,960 | $84,369 (+6.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.