CostIndexUSA

Atlanta, GA vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Atlanta
100.1
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Atlanta — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlanta, you would need $77,500 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing21.2%
Atlanta
111
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Atlanta
100.4
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Atlanta
101.5
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Atlanta
91.9
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+38.5%
Atlanta
96.2
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlanta to see what you'd need to earn in Rochester to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 100.1) = salary × 0.9690. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
111
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.3×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Atlanta has 21.2% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Atlanta, GA

Median Household Income
$86,500
Per Capita Income
$49,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
498,715
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaHealthcareLogistics

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlanta, GA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.