City comparison
Birmingham, AL vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 4.5% higher than in Birmingham, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Birmingham, AL would need about $104,500 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,155 a month in Birmingham, AL and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Birmingham, AL to Syracuse, NY ($107,510 → $106,437), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.2% in real buying power.
- Birmingham, AL: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Birmingham, AL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,472 in Syracuse | $95,720 in Birmingham |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,155/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,770 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Birmingham, AL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Birmingham | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 71.9 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 83.8 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Birmingham, AL → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
55 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Birmingham, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Birmingham, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Birmingham, AL to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Birmingham, AL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Birmingham → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $61,722 | −5.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $74,678 | −5.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $89,508 | −5.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $106,437 | −5.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $125,776 | −5.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Birmingham, AL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Birmingham dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,630 | $78,560 | $75,197 (+20.1%) |
| Software Developers | $125,410 | $129,100 | $123,574 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,660 | $82,230 | $78,710 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,680 | $86,960 | $83,238 (+5.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.