City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 5.6% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $105,600 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 15% in Utica, 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 −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Utica, NY ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.1% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,707 in Utica | $105,589 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $926/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% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$76/yr.
86 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$76/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Utica, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Utica, NY | Real change, Richmond → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $77,010 | $81,314 (+32.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $113,390 | $119,728 (−9.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $79,830 | $84,292 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $94,300 | $99,571 (+6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.