Uprootmap
Rochester vs Erie
Rochester and Erie
Photo: Andre Carrotflower / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Erie are under the US rate in this release, 4.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Rochester to Erie
In 2022-2023, 25 households filed a move from Rochester to Erie (about 40 people, average adjusted gross income $39,600). 26 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,208 in Rochester and $804 in Erie. Rochester has a state tax on wages. Erie has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Erie is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 96% in Rochester.
Erie averages 172 sunny days, with July highs around 79°F and January nights around 28°F. Rochester is 163 sunny days, 81°F in July, 17°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Erie 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, 25 households moved Rochester → Erie (about 40 people, average AGI $39,600). 26 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 Erie changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 178 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Erie
Questions
Is Erie cheaper than Rochester after tax and rent?
Yes. Erie leaves about $292 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,208 in Rochester and $804 in Erie.
Does Erie have state income tax?
Erie is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Rochester to Erie?
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.