City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.2% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $102,200 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Syracuse, NY ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.2% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,838 in Syracuse | $102,210 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$76/yr.
76 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$76/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Richmond → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | −2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | −2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | −2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | −2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | −2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $78,560 | $80,296 (+31.0%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $129,100 | $131,953 (−0.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $82,230 | $84,047 (−0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $86,960 | $88,882 (−5.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.