City comparison
Albany, NY vs Merced, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 1.3% higher than in Merced, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Merced, CA would need about $101,300 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,213 in Merced, CA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 20% in Merced, 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 +21.2% moving from Albany, NY to Merced, CA ($109,810 → $133,060), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +22.8% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Merced, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 98.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,703 in Merced | $101,314 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,213/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% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $47,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Merced, CA MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Merced, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Merced |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 78.6 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 158.3 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 98.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Merced, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
73 Strong offer
Merced, CA → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Merced, CA is in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Merced, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Merced, CA | Real change, Albany → Merced |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $77,161 | +22.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $93,358 | +22.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $111,896 | +22.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $133,060 | +22.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $157,236 | +22.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Merced, CA | Merced pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $100,120 | $101,435 (+28.0%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $132,120 | $133,856 (+4.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $80,420 | $81,476 (−3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $131,620 | $133,349 (+33.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.