City comparison
Albany, NY vs Colorado Springs, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 1.1% higher than in Albany, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Albany, NY would need about $101,100 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,417 a month in Albany, NY and $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,168 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Colorado Springs, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Albany, NY to Colorado Springs, CO ($109,810 → $109,246), while prices change by +1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Colorado Springs, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 100.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,146 in Colorado Springs | $98,867 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,464/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $52,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Colorado Springs, CO |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Colorado Springs, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 116.2 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 83.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 100.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,168/yr.
65 Fair offer
Colorado Springs, CO → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,168/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Colorado Springs, CO is in Colorado Springs, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Colorado Springs, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Colorado Springs, CO | Real change, Albany → Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $63,351 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $76,650 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $91,870 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $109,246 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $129,096 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $61,140 | $60,447 (−23.7%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $134,280 | $132,759 (+3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $85,000 | $84,037 (−0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $96,140 | $95,051 (−4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.