Example household · Albany, NY · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Syracuse skyline

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Albany vs Syracuse

Albany and Syracuse

Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Syracuse are under the US rate in this release, 5.3 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Albany to Syracuse

In 2022-2023, 170 households filed a move from Albany to Syracuse (about 226 people, average adjusted gross income $69,382). 220 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,367 in Albany and $1,236 in Syracuse. Albany has a state tax on wages. Syracuse has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Syracuse is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 104% in Albany.

Syracuse averages 159 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 26°F. Albany is 178 sunny days, 85°F in July, 24°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Syracuse and 23 in Albany.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 170 households moved Albany → Syracuse (about 226 people, average AGI $69,382). 220 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Albany and Syracuse changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 138 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,650–$3,150
Container or pod
$1,150–$2,100
Rent a truck
$400–$800

Movers in Syracuse and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Syracuse cheaper than Albany after tax and rent?

Yes. Syracuse leaves about $105 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,367 in Albany and $1,236 in Syracuse.

Does Syracuse have state income tax?

Syracuse is in New York, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Albany to Syracuse?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.