City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 20.7% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $120,700 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 15% in Utica, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Utica, NY ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −17.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.7% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much pricier)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| San Diego, CA | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $82,832 in Utica | $120,727 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +20.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
100 Strong offer
Utica, NY → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −17.2%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Utica, NY | Real change, San Diego → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | +5.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | +5.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | +5.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | +5.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | +5.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Utica, NY | Utica pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $77,010 | $92,972 (−4.2%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $113,390 | $136,892 (−16.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $79,830 | $96,376 (+0.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $94,300 | $113,845 (−18.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.