City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.2% higher than in Rochester, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Rochester, NY would need about $101,200 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,256 in Rochester, NY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 20% in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Rochester, NY than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.6% moving from Raleigh, NC to Rochester, NY ($111,147 → $107,182), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
- 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
| Raleigh, NC | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,857 in Rochester | $101,156 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
72 Strong offer
Rochester, NY → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Rochester, NY | Real change, Raleigh → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $62,155 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $75,202 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $90,135 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $107,182 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $126,657 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $62,840 | $63,567 (+5.6%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $122,770 | $124,190 (−6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $80,890 | $81,825 (−0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $86,570 | $87,571 (+3.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.