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

Albany skyline

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Syracuse vs Albany

Syracuse and Albany

Photo: Henry Bellagnome / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0

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 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 Syracuse to Albany

In 2022-2023, 220 households filed a move from Syracuse to Albany (about 288 people, average adjusted gross income $60,491). 170 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,236 in Syracuse and $1,367 in Albany. Syracuse 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 94% in Syracuse.

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

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, 220 households moved Syracuse → Albany (about 288 people, average AGI $60,491). 170 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 Syracuse and Albany 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 Albany and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Albany cheaper than Syracuse after tax and rent?

No. Albany leaves about $105 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,236 in Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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.