City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 2.5% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $102,500 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Raleigh, NC to Syracuse, NY ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
- 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
| Raleigh, NC | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,540 in Syracuse | $102,522 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
77 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Raleigh, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
61 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Raleigh → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $143,640 | $108,270 | $111,001 (−22.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $129,100 | $132,356 (−0.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $82,230 | $84,304 (+2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $86,960 | $89,153 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.