City comparison
Salem, OR vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 8.3% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $108,300 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $1,123 in Syracuse, NY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 18% in Syracuse, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,061 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Syracuse, NY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Salem, OR to Syracuse, NY ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Salem, OR | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,371 in Syracuse | $108,259 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Syracuse, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,061/yr.
95 Strong offer
Syracuse, NY → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$3,061/yr.
45 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Syracuse, NY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Salem → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $78,560 | $85,048 (+13.7%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $129,100 | $139,762 (+6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $82,230 | $89,021 (+1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $86,960 | $94,142 (−28.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.