City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Pensacola, FL (97.7) and Rochester, NY (97.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Pensacola, FL goes as far as $99,300 in Rochester, NY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,257 a month in Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Pensacola, FL to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.4% in real buying power.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (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
| Pensacola, FL | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,302 in Rochester | $100,703 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/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 | $46,240 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
71 Strong offer
Rochester, NY → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Rochester, NY | Real change, Pensacola → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | +1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | +1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | +1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | +1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | +1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $62,840 | $63,282 (+25.7%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $122,770 | $123,633 (+14.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $80,890 | $81,459 (+6.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $86,570 | $87,178 (+11.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.