City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Ocala, FL (95.2) and Syracuse, NY (95.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Ocala, FL goes as far as $100,500 in Syracuse, NY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,172 a month in Ocala, FL and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Ocala, FL.
- 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 Ocala, FL to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by −0.5%, purely from prices.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (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
| Ocala, FL | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,533 in Syracuse | $99,469 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $1,123/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 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
67 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Ocala, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
70 Strong 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 Ocala, FL to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Ocala → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $78,560 | $78,143 (+35.8%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $129,100 | $128,415 (+13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $82,230 | $81,794 (+10.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $86,960 | $86,499 (+9.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.