City comparison
Rochester, NY vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rochester, NY are 1.4% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $101,400 in Rochester, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,256 a month in Rochester, NY versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Rochester, NY and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- Both are in NY, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,860 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.7% moving from Rochester, NY to Syracuse, NY ($107,182 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.6% in real buying power.
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (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
| Rochester, NY | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.0 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,667 in Syracuse | $101,351 in Rochester |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,256/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,210 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Rochester, NY MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Rochester, NY and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Rochester | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.5 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 133.2 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.0 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Rochester, NY → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Rochester, NY is in the Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Rochester, NY to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Rochester, NY | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Rochester → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,155 | $61,722 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,202 | $74,678 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,135 | $89,508 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,182 | $106,437 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,657 | $125,776 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Rochester, NY | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Rochester dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,840 | $78,560 | $79,621 (+26.7%) |
| Software Developers | $122,770 | $129,100 | $130,844 (+6.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,890 | $82,230 | $83,341 (+3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,570 | $86,960 | $88,134 (+1.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.