City comparison
Providence, RI vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 6.3% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $106,300 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,712 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Providence, RI to Syracuse, NY ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.1% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (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
| Providence, RI | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,074 in Syracuse | $106,299 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,712/yr.
88 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,712/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Providence, RI to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Providence → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | −6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | −6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | −6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | −6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | −6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $78,560 | $83,509 (−3.7%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $129,100 | $137,232 (+5.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $82,230 | $87,410 (−8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $86,960 | $92,438 (−7.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.