City comparison
Boulder, CO vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boulder, CO are 13.5% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $113,500 in Boulder, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,795 a month in Boulder, CO versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 29% of take-home pay in Boulder, CO and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,168 a year higher in Utica, NY than in Boulder, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Boulder, CO to Utica, NY ($118,675 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Boulder, CO: price level 105.2 (pricier)
- 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
| Boulder, CO | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.2 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,095 in Utica | $113,513 in Boulder |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,795/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 29% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $69,580 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Boulder, CO MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Boulder, CO and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boulder | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 157.0 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 82.7 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 105.2 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boulder, CO → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,168/yr.
100 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Boulder, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.9%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax −$1,168/yr.
32 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boulder, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Boulder, CO to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boulder, CO | Utica, NY | Real change, Boulder → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $61,722 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $74,678 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $89,508 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $106,437 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $125,776 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boulder, CO | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Boulder dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $80,640 | $77,010 | $87,417 (+8.4%) |
| Software Developers | $164,560 | $113,390 | $128,713 (−21.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $99,990 | $79,830 | $90,618 (−9.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,290 | $94,300 | $107,043 (+3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.