City comparison
Portland, OR vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 10.1% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $110,100 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 $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,061 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Syracuse, NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Portland, OR to Syracuse, NY ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −9.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.2% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (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
| Portland, OR | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,819 in Syracuse | $110,109 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $1,123/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,061/yr.
100 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.2%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$3,061/yr.
35 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Portland → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $78,560 | $86,502 (+5.1%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $129,100 | $142,151 (−8.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $82,230 | $90,543 (−1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $86,960 | $95,751 (−26.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.