City comparison
Miami, FL vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 19.2% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $119,200 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.1% moving from Miami, FL to Syracuse, NY ($113,356 → $106,437), while prices change by −16.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.0% in real buying power.
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
- 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
| Miami, FL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 114.2 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $83,870 in Syracuse | $119,232 in Miami |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,995/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 30% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,640 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Miami | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 155.6 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 103.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 109.1 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 114.2 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Miami, FL → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
100 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.1%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
30 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Miami, FL is in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Miami, FL to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Miami, FL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Miami → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,735 | $61,722 | +12.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $79,533 | $74,678 | +12.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $95,326 | $89,508 | +12.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $113,356 | $106,437 | +12.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,953 | $125,776 | +12.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Miami, FL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Miami dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,300 | $78,560 | $93,669 (+60.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,650 | $129,100 | $153,928 (+16.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,920 | $82,230 | $98,044 (+21.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $91,380 | $86,960 | $103,684 (+13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.