City comparison
Albany, NY vs Fresno, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.6% higher than in Albany, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Albany, NY would need about $102,600 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,417 a month in Albany, NY and $1,355 in Fresno, 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 −2.6% moving from Albany, NY to Fresno, CA ($109,810 → $106,973), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Fresno, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 102.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,603 in Fresno | $97,463 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,355/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 | 23% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $46,910 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Fresno, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Fresno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 95.7 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 161.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 102.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
61 Fair offer
Fresno, CA → Albany, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Fresno, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Fresno, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Fresno, CA | Real change, Albany → Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $62,033 | −5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $75,055 | −5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,959 | −5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,973 | −5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $126,410 | −5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Fresno, CA | Fresno pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $78,800 | $76,801 (−3.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $129,060 | $125,785 (−1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $78,690 | $76,693 (−9.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $125,420 | $122,238 (+22.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.