Ithaca, NY vs Rochester, NY: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Rochester, NY is 6.1% less expensive than Ithaca, NY (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Ithaca works out to about $70,400 in Rochester, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 31.9% less in Rochester. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,532 a month in Rochester and $1,987 in Ithaca, $5,460 a year less in Rochester (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $281,000 in Rochester and $350,000 in Ithaca.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.7%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 31.9% lower in Rochester than in Ithaca
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 97.0 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 128.4 | 87.5 |
| Utilities | 131.6 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Category | Ithaca | Rochester | Rochester vs Ithaca |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 97.0 | −6.1% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 128.4 | 87.5 | −31.9% |
| Utilities | 131.6 | 133.2 | +1.2% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,987 | $1,532 | −22.9% |
| Typical home value | $350,000 | $281,000 | −19.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Ithaca | $75,000 | $70,400 | −6.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Ithaca and Rochester has widened since 2008: 0.7 points then, 6.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 100.8 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 101.5 | 98.2 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 98.5 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 103.3 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 99.8 |
| 2017 | 104.9 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 101.6 | 99.0 |
| 2019 | 103.7 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 97.3 |
| 2021 | 102.2 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 98.7 | 95.4 |
| 2023 | 99.5 | 98.4 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 97.0 |
Goods
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.6 | 94.8 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 93.2 |
| 2011 | 111.3 | 91.0 |
| 2012 | 116.5 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 95.4 | 94.1 |
| 2014 | 109.2 | 95.8 |
| 2015 | 119.3 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 108.2 | 93.4 |
| 2017 | 124.5 | 96.3 |
| 2018 | 112.4 | 95.4 |
| 2019 | 136.0 | 92.9 |
| 2020 | 111.7 | 86.4 |
| 2021 | 124.6 | 90.6 |
| 2022 | 106.4 | 85.8 |
| 2023 | 101.3 | 94.4 |
| 2024 | 128.4 | 87.5 |
Utilities
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 140.2 | 140.4 |
| 2009 | 140.1 | 139.8 |
| 2010 | 135.8 | 137.8 |
| 2011 | 134.4 | 135.9 |
| 2012 | 130.2 | 128.8 |
| 2013 | 131.9 | 134.5 |
| 2014 | 132.7 | 133.6 |
| 2015 | 124.2 | 125.5 |
| 2016 | 122.5 | 124.4 |
| 2017 | 125.6 | 127.7 |
| 2018 | 131.8 | 134.6 |
| 2019 | 131.6 | 132.3 |
| 2020 | 132.1 | 132.3 |
| 2021 | 134.2 | 132.7 |
| 2022 | 132.1 | 131.6 |
| 2023 | 130.8 | 131.1 |
| 2024 | 131.6 | 133.2 |
Other services
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2024 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,532 in Rochester vs $1,987 in Ithaca
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $874 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $895 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $891 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $893 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $910 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $923 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $922 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $916 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $934 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $944 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $954 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $947 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $967 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $983 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $986 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $977 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,309 | $996 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,327 | $1,025 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,411 | $1,020 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,358 | $1,015 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,392 | $1,038 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,343 | $1,050 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,445 | $1,074 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,436 | $1,092 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,377 | $1,108 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,445 | $1,153 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,456 | $1,181 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,579 | $1,187 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,647 | $1,230 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,723 | $1,290 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,595 | $1,289 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,704 | $1,276 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,742 | $1,306 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,761 | $1,350 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,763 | $1,358 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,774 | $1,368 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,806 | $1,386 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,815 | $1,412 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,863 | $1,414 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,874 | $1,432 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,868 | $1,464 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,899 | $1,478 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,914 | $1,491 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,883 | $1,504 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,971 | $1,512 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,917 | $1,519 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,987 | $1,532 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $281,000 in Rochester vs $350,000 in Ithaca
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Ithaca, NY
- Rochester, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Ithaca, NY | Rochester, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $196K | $133K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $197K | $134K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $201K | $136K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $204K | $137K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $204K | $140K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $204K | $144K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $206K | $145K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $210K | $148K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $212K | $149K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $215K | $151K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $217K | $150K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $219K | $149K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $220K | $149K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $221K | $150K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $223K | $153K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $223K | $154K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $223K | $156K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $221K | $158K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $222K | $160K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $225K | $162K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $228K | $164K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $229K | $167K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $233K | $172K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $243K | $181K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $247K | $187K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $256K | $196K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $264K | $200K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $270K | $198K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $279K | $207K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $293K | $220K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $298K | $223K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $295K | $222K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $295K | $224K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $303K | $232K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $312K | $241K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $316K | $243K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $318K | $245K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $326K | $254K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $331K | $259K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $334K | $263K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $336K | $264K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $336K | $265K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $339K | $268K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $342K | $270K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $345K | $274K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $350K | $278K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $350K | $281K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.