City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Richmond, VA (97.9) and Rochester, NY (97.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Richmond, VA goes as far as $99,200 in Rochester, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,256 in Rochester, NY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 20% in Rochester, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,860 in NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.6% moving from Richmond, VA to Rochester, NY ($111,183 → $107,182), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.8% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,159 in Rochester | $100,848 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$76/yr.
71 Strong offer
Rochester, NY → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$76/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Rochester, NY | Real change, Richmond → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $62,155 | −2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $75,202 | −2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $90,135 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $107,182 | −2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $126,657 | −2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $62,840 | $63,373 (+3.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $122,770 | $123,811 (−6.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $80,890 | $81,576 (−3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $86,570 | $87,304 (−6.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.