City comparison
Syracuse, NY vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 4.3% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $104,300 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY and $1,123 in Visalia, CA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $5,070 in CA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Syracuse, NY to Visalia, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.6% in real buying power.
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Syracuse, NY | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,265 in Visalia | $95,910 in Syracuse |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,990 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Syracuse, NY MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Syracuse, NY and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Syracuse | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 80.7 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 133.4 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Syracuse, NY → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
56 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Syracuse, NY is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Syracuse, NY to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Syracuse, NY | Visalia, CA | Real change, Syracuse → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Syracuse, NY | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Syracuse dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $98,430 | $94,404 (+20.2%) |
| Software Developers | $129,100 | $126,170 | $121,009 (−6.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,230 | $79,400 | $76,152 (−7.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 | $125,180 | $120,060 (+38.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.