City comparison
Merced, CA vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Merced, CA are 2.6% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $102,600 in Merced, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,213 a month in Merced, CA versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Merced, CA and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −20.0% moving from Merced, CA to Syracuse, NY ($133,060 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −17.9% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (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
| Merced, CA | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,423 in Syracuse | $102,646 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$211/yr.
77 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Merced, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$211/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Merced → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $61,722 | −17.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $74,678 | −17.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,508 | −17.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,437 | −17.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $125,776 | −17.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $78,560 | $80,638 (−19.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $129,100 | $132,516 (+0.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $82,230 | $84,406 (+5.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $86,960 | $89,261 (−32.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.