City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 1.2% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $101,200 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $940 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Milwaukee, WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Syracuse, NY ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.2% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (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
| Milwaukee, WI | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,767 in Syracuse | $101,248 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$940/yr.
73 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Milwaukee, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$940/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Milwaukee → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | −3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | −3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | −3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | −3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | −3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $78,560 | $79,541 (+29.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $129,100 | $130,711 (+5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $82,230 | $83,256 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $86,960 | $88,045 (−9.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.