City comparison
Tuscaloosa, AL vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Utica, NY are 5.6% higher than in Tuscaloosa, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL would need about $105,600 in Utica, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $972 a month in Tuscaloosa, AL and $926 in Utica, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Tuscaloosa, AL to Utica, NY ($107,510 → $106,437), while prices change by +5.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.3% in real buying power.
- Tuscaloosa, AL: price level 87.7 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Tuscaloosa, AL | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 87.7 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,650 in Utica | $94,652 in Tuscaloosa |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $972/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,220 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Tuscaloosa, AL and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tuscaloosa | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.2 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 87.7 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tuscaloosa, AL → Utica, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
52 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Tuscaloosa, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
86 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tuscaloosa, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Tuscaloosa, AL to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Utica, NY | Real change, Tuscaloosa → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $61,722 | −6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $74,678 | −6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $89,508 | −6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $106,437 | −6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $125,776 | −6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Tuscaloosa dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,220 | $77,010 | $72,892 (+21.0%) |
| Software Developers | $104,870 | $113,390 | $107,326 (+2.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $71,690 | $79,830 | $75,561 (+5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $75,250 | $94,300 | $89,257 (+18.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.