City comparison
Gainesville, FL vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Gainesville, FL (96.7) and Rochester, NY (97.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Gainesville, FL goes as far as $100,300 in Rochester, NY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,246 a month in Gainesville, FL and $1,256 in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Rochester, NY than in Gainesville, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Gainesville, FL to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by +0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Gainesville, FL: price level 96.7 (cheaper)
- 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
| Gainesville, FL | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,312 in Rochester | $99,689 in Gainesville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,246/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,020 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Gainesville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Gainesville, FL and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Gainesville | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.0 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 96.7 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Gainesville, FL → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
68 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Gainesville, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Gainesville, FL 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 Gainesville, FL to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Gainesville, FL | Rochester, NY | Real change, Gainesville → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Gainesville, FL | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Gainesville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $56,430 | $62,840 | $62,644 (+11.0%) |
| Software Developers | $122,950 | $122,770 | $122,388 (−0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,820 | $80,890 | $80,638 (+6.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,870 | $86,570 | $86,301 (+5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.