City comparison
Montgomery, 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 6.8% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $106,800 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Syracuse, NY and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,860 in NY.
- 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 Montgomery, AL to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by −6.3%, purely from prices.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much 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
| Montgomery, AL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,757 in Syracuse | $93,670 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/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 | 14% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
49 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
90 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 Montgomery, AL to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Montgomery → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $78,560 | $73,588 (+23.4%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $129,100 | $120,929 (+9.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $82,230 | $77,025 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $86,960 | $81,456 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.