Cost of living in Rochester, New York: rent and home prices
In Rochester, New York, the cost of living is 3.0% below the US average. For 2024, BEA regional price parity (RPP) placed the Rochester, NY metro area at 97.0, compared with 100 for the US. Housing alone was 87.5.
- Level of prices
- 97.0US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- Rents come to 87.5, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Rochester, New York
A regional price parity sets the cost of one basket of goods and services in one place against the US average, which is set at 100. Rochester, New York lies within the metro area called Rochester, NY, and BEA measures prices across that whole area as one. Utilities differ most from the US average, sitting at 133.2, or 33.2% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Rochester, NY metro | New York | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.0 | 107.9 | −3.0% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 107.3 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 87.5 | 122.2 | −12.5% |
| Utilities | 133.2 | 134.4 | +33.2% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 104.1 | −2.2% |
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024 regional price parities for metro areas and states. BEA regional price parities
Rents in Rochester, New York
In Rochester, New York, the typical monthly asking rent is $1,454, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). It covers homes listed now and is +3.5% over the prior year. In the US, that figure is $1,932. Census reports a median gross rent of $1,090, which includes every renting household and not just new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 37% of the median household income.
| Rent | Rochester, New York | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,454 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +3.5% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,090 | $1,487 |
| Asking rent for one year, as a share of median income | 37% | 28% |
Data sources: Zillow Observed Rent Index; Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, with one-year estimates.
Home prices for Rochester, New York
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) measures the value of a typical home at the middle of the market. In Rochester, New York, a typical home was worth $240,168 in September 2026. The figure rose +4.7% over a year, and the US stands at $366,157. The price equals 5.1 years of median household income, versus 4.5 years in the US.
| Home prices | Rochester, New York | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $240,168 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +4.7% | +1.2% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 5.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 13.8 | 15.8 |
A price chart running back to 2000, the forecast, and days on the market: Rochester, New York housing market overview.
Rochester, New York: the salary needed to live there
Two questions decide the salary in Rochester, New York that matches what your pay buys now: the place you live and the money you earn.
- Moving away from
- Salary
The method, plus all cities side by side: cost of living comparison.
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Rochester, New York cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | A typical rent | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, New York | 97.0 | 87.5 | $1,454 | $240,168 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Buffalo | 95.8 | 81.0 | $1,421 | $244,068 |
| Syracuse | 95.7 | 80.7 | $1,566 | $223,201 |
| Albany | 99.6 | 102.6 | $1,664 | $331,504 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, US = 100. Rents: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city ranked: city cost of living comparison. Each state: cost of living by state.