City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 4.7% higher than in Rochester, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Rochester, NY would need about $104,700 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR and $1,256 in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,061 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Rochester, NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Eugene, OR to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by −4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.4% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,537 in Rochester | $104,672 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Rochester, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$3,061/yr.
83 Strong offer
Rochester, NY → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,061/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Rochester, NY | Real change, Eugene → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | +5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | +5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | +5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | +5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | +5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $62,840 | $65,776 (+2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $122,770 | $128,505 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $80,890 | $84,669 (+5.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $86,570 | $90,614 (−20.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.