City comparison
Albany, NY vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 7.4% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $107,400 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 $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 15% in Utica, NY.
- Both are in NY, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,860 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Utica, NY ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.1% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- 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
| Albany, NY | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,082 in Utica | $107,432 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
92 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Utica, NY | Real change, Albany → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $77,010 | $82,734 (+4.4%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $113,390 | $121,817 (−4.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $79,830 | $85,763 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $94,300 | $101,309 (+1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.