City comparison
Spartanburg, SC vs Syracuse, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 5.2% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $105,200 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,083 a month in Spartanburg, SC and $1,123 in Syracuse, NY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,860 in NY.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Spartanburg, SC to Syracuse, NY changes real buying power by −4.9%, purely from prices.
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Spartanburg, SC | Syracuse, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.1 | 95.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,152 in Syracuse | $95,100 in Spartanburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,083/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,650 | $52,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Syracuse, NY MSA. Metro areas: Spartanburg, SC and Syracuse, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Spartanburg | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.0 | 80.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 133.4 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.1 | 95.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Spartanburg, SC → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
53 Fair offer
Syracuse, NY → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
85 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Spartanburg, SC to Syracuse, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Spartanburg, SC | Syracuse, NY | Real change, Spartanburg → Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −4.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −4.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −4.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −4.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −4.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Spartanburg, SC | Syracuse, NY | Syracuse pay in Spartanburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,990 | $78,560 | $74,711 (+22.5%) |
| Software Developers | $114,460 | $129,100 | $122,775 (+7.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,080 | $82,230 | $78,201 (+1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,360 | $86,960 | $82,699 (+0.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.