City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 6.1% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $106,100 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,061 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Syracuse, NY.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by +6.1%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- 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
| Eugene, OR | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,264 in Syracuse | $106,085 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,123/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,061/yr.
88 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,061/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Eugene → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $78,560 | $83,340 (+29.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $129,100 | $136,956 (+13.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $82,230 | $87,234 (+9.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $86,960 | $92,252 (−18.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.