City comparison
Portland, OR vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 8.6% higher than in Rochester, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Rochester, NY would need about $108,600 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $1,256 in Rochester, NY. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 20% in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,061 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Rochester, NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.5% moving from Portland, OR to Rochester, NY ($114,684 → $107,182), while prices change by −8.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.5% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,045 in Rochester | $108,642 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Rochester, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$3,061/yr.
96 Strong offer
Rochester, NY → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.0%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,061/yr.
39 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Rochester, NY | Real change, Portland → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $62,155 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $75,202 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $90,135 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $107,182 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $126,657 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $62,840 | $68,271 (−17.1%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $122,770 | $133,380 (−14.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $80,890 | $87,881 (−4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $86,570 | $94,052 (−27.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.