City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rochester, NY are 8.2% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $108,200 in Rochester, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,256 a month in Rochester, NY versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Rochester, NY and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Montgomery, AL to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by +8.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.9% in real buying power.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much 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
| Montgomery, AL | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,199 in Rochester | $92,422 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Rochester, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
45 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
94 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Montgomery, AL 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 Montgomery, AL to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Rochester, NY | Real change, Montgomery → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | −6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | −6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | −6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | −6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | −6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $62,840 | $58,078 (−2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $122,770 | $113,467 (+2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $80,890 | $74,760 (−0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $86,570 | $80,010 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.