City comparison
Syracuse, NY vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Tucson, AZ are 1.2% higher than in Syracuse, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Syracuse, NY would need about $101,200 in Tucson, AZ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY and $1,081 in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,569 a year higher in Syracuse, NY than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Syracuse, NY to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by +1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.7% in real buying power.
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Syracuse, NY | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,205 in Tucson | $98,809 in Syracuse |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,990 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Syracuse, NY MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Syracuse, NY and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Syracuse | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 80.7 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 133.4 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Syracuse, NY → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,569/yr.
65 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Syracuse, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,569/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Syracuse, NY is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Syracuse, NY to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Syracuse, NY | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Syracuse → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | +0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | +0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | +0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | +0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | +0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Syracuse, NY | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Syracuse dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $47,220 | $46,658 (−40.6%) |
| Software Developers | $129,100 | $123,710 | $122,237 (−5.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,230 | $76,320 | $75,411 (−8.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 | $94,110 | $92,989 (+6.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.