CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
NY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Huntsville is slightly cheaper than Rochester — 4.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $83,400 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+12.3%
Huntsville
77.9
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries+3.4%
Huntsville
96.4
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Huntsville
101.5
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Huntsville
91.9
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+58.8%
Huntsville
83.9
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 1.0419. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Rochester, NY

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

Rochester has 12.3% higher housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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).

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.