Uprootmap
Rochester vs Albany
Rochester and Albany
Photo: Henry Bellagnome / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Albany are under the US rate in this release, 2.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Rochester to Albany
In 2022-2023, 198 households filed a move from Rochester to Albany (about 255 people, average adjusted gross income $58,854). 186 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,208 in Rochester and $1,367 in Albany. Rochester has a state tax on wages. Albany has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Albany is 104% of the national level for the same work, against 96% in Rochester.
Albany averages 178 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 24°F. Rochester is 163 sunny days, 81°F in July, 17°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Albany and 21 in Rochester.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 198 households moved Rochester → Albany (about 255 people, average AGI $58,854). 186 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 Rochester and Albany changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 222 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $500–$900
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Dig into Albany
Questions
Is Albany cheaper than Rochester after tax and rent?
No. Albany leaves about $238 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,208 in Rochester and $1,367 in Albany.
Does Albany have state income tax?
Albany is in New York, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Rochester to Albany?
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.