City comparison
Albany, NY vs Detroit, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albany, NY (99.6) and Detroit, MI (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albany, NY goes as far as $100,700 in Detroit, MI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,122 in Detroit, MI. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 18% in Detroit, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $860 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Detroit, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.9% moving from Albany, NY to Detroit, MI ($109,810 → $117,402), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,735 in Detroit | $99,270 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,122/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $52,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 98.8 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 102.6 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Detroit, MI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$860/yr.
66 Fair offer
Detroit, MI → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$860/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Detroit, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Detroit, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Detroit, MI | Real change, Albany → Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $68,081 | +6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $82,372 | +6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $98,729 | +6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $117,402 | +6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $138,734 | +6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Detroit, MI | Detroit pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $65,210 | $64,734 (−18.3%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $130,760 | $129,806 (+1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $80,650 | $80,061 (−5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $97,280 | $96,570 (−3.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.