Cost of living in Syracuse: rent, homes and salary
In the Syracuse, NY metro area, BEA's 2024 regional price parity (RPP) is 95.7, against 100 for the US and 80.7 for housing alone. That puts the cost of living in Syracuse 4.3% under the US average.
- Level of prices
- 95.7US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 80.7 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Syracuse
With the US average set at 100, a regional price parity measures one place's cost for a fixed basket of goods and services against that average. Syracuse belongs to the Syracuse, NY metro area. BEA prices that area as a single unit. At 133.4, utilities are furthest from the US average, sitting 33.4% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Syracuse, NY metro | New York | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.7 | 107.9 | −4.3% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 107.3 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 80.7 | 122.2 | −19.3% |
| Utilities | 133.4 | 134.4 | +33.4% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 104.1 | −2.2% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024, regional price parities for metro areas and states. BEA regional price parities
Syracuse rent
In Syracuse, the typical asking rent is $1,566 a month (Zillow Observed Rent Index, ZORI). It reflects homes listed now and is +3.7% on a year. In the US, the figure is $1,932. Census puts median gross rent at $1,081. That figure covers every renting household, not just new leases. One year of the asking rent equals 36% of the median household income.
| Rent | Syracuse | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,566 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +3.7% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,081 | $1,487 |
| Median income share, one year of asking rent | 36% | 28% |
Sources: Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Syracuse home prices
In September 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put a typical home in Syracuse at $223,201. That index tracks the value of a home sitting in the middle of the market. That works out to +5.5% year over year, compared with $366,157 in the US. That equals 4.3 years of median household income, versus 4.5 in the US.
| Home prices | Syracuse | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $223,201 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +5.5% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +130.2% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 11.9 | 15.8 |
Days on market, forecast, and the price chart since 2000: Syracuse housing market.
What salary you need in Syracuse
Two things decide the Syracuse salary that holds your buying power steady: the place you live in, and your earnings.
- Moving away from
- Salary
The method, plus every city lined up beside it: comparison of cost of living by city.
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Syracuse cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent figure | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 95.7 | 80.7 | $1,566 | $223,201 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Buffalo | 95.8 | 81.0 | $1,421 | $244,068 |
| Rochester, New York | 97.0 | 87.5 | $1,454 | $240,168 |
| 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 |
US = 100 is the base; price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024. Rent source: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
Every city, ranked: city cost of living comparison. Every state: cost of living in each state.