A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Rochester New York National
Cost of living89117100
Goods & Services102108100
Groceries98102100
Health care99103100
Housing61145100
Transportation108105100
Utilities92100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Rochester, NY

Understanding the cost of living in Rochester can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Rochester cost of living index is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Rochester?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 48 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Rochester. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 27% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 73% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Rochester Affordable?

Wondering if Rochester is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Rochester, for example, the median home price is 52.3% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 7.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Rochester boasting a median household income of $37,395, which is 32.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Rochester?

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Rochester starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 4%.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Rochester, the transportation index stands at 7.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Rochester cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Rochester Area
Search Homes for Sale in Rochester, NY

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Rochester is 24% lower than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Rochester is 11% lower than the national average
  • Rochester housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Rochester

See all the best places to live around Rochester

Compare Rochester, NY Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Rochester?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Rochester?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Rochester poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,871$4,906$1,374$1,766
      Renters$27,217$2,268$635$817
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Rochester, NY, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Rochester, the median monthly income is $58,871 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,374 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $27,217, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $635 on monthly rental expenses.

      New York Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New York 4% 8.875%

      New York Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New York 4% 10.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.78$24.2610.4%
      Beauty Salon $44.58$45.562.2%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.70$1.2832.6%
      Movie $15.90$12.1331.0%
      Bowling $24.25$18.0034.7%

      Groceries

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.04$5.843.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.571.4%
      Milk $5.16$4.6710.5%
      Potatoes $5.21$4.935.7%
      Pizza $13.16$12.098.9%
      Beer $11.98$10.4115.1%

      Health Care

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $124.25$125.681.1%
      Doctor $154.18$135.7813.6%
      Dentist $124.68$113.2910.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.17$10.654.8%
      Lipitor $398.58$468.6014.9%

      Housing

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      Home Price $88,100.00$184,700.0052.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,235.60$2,346.69123.1%
      Apartment Rent $875.00$949.007.8%

      Transportation

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.58$3.463.6%
      Tire Balancing $59.33$59.921.0%

      Utilities

      Item Rochester National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $196.28$193.991.2%
      Phone $200.67$192.254.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      East Rochester, NY6,530918.8%
      Caledonia, NY2,133928.1%
      Greece, NY14,477927.6%
      North Gates, NY9,740937.5%
      Irondequoit, NY50,141945.9%
      Rochester, NY206,3578911.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Oxnard, CA207,72215050.2%
      Moreno Valley, CA208,75113130.6%
      Birmingham, AL210,9288812.3%
      Fayetteville, NC211,201936.6%
      Oakville, ON212,353n/a 
      Rochester, NY206,3578911.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.