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

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Utica vs Syracuse

Utica 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 Utica to Syracuse

In 2022-2023, 844 households filed a move from Utica to Syracuse (about 1,350 people, average adjusted gross income $53,694). 724 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,107 in Utica and $1,236 in Syracuse. Utica 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 94% in Utica.

Syracuse averages 159 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 26°F. Utica is 164 sunny days, 82°F in July, 26°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Syracuse 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, 844 households moved Utica → Syracuse (about 1,350 people, average AGI $53,694). 724 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 Syracuse changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 68 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,600–$3,000
Container or pod
$1,050–$2,000
Rent a truck
$350–$700

Movers in Syracuse and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Syracuse cheaper than Utica after tax and rent?

No. Syracuse leaves about $102 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,107 in Utica and $1,236 in Syracuse.

Does Syracuse have state income tax?

Syracuse is in New York, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Utica 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.