City comparison
Buffalo, NY vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Buffalo, NY (95.8) and Syracuse, NY (95.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Buffalo, NY goes as far as $99,900 in Syracuse, NY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,139 a month in Buffalo, NY and $1,123 in Syracuse, 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 −4.4% moving from Buffalo, NY to Syracuse, NY ($111,301 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Buffalo, NY: price level 95.8 (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
| Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.8 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,894 in Syracuse | $100,107 in Buffalo |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,139/mo | $1,123/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 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,790 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Buffalo | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 81.0 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 129.5 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 95.8 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Buffalo, NY → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Buffalo, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Buffalo, NY is in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Buffalo, NY to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Buffalo → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,543 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,091 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,598 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,301 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,525 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Buffalo, NY | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Buffalo dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,490 | $78,560 | $78,644 (+2.8%) |
| Software Developers | $127,850 | $129,100 | $129,238 (+1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,120 | $82,230 | $82,318 (+0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,060 | $86,960 | $87,053 (−12.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.