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

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Utica vs Albany

Utica 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 Utica to Albany

In 2022-2023, 160 households filed a move from Utica to Albany (about 226 people, average adjusted gross income $50,131). 100 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,107 in Utica and $1,367 in Albany. Utica 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 Utica.

Albany averages 178 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 24°F. Utica is 164 sunny days, 82°F in July, 26°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Albany and 22 in Utica.

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, 160 households moved Utica → Albany (about 226 people, average AGI $50,131). 100 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 Utica and Albany changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 87 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,600–$3,000
Container or pod
$1,100–$2,050
Rent a truck
$400–$700

Movers in Albany and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Albany cheaper than Utica after tax and rent?

No. Albany leaves about $207 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,107 in Utica 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 Utica 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.