CostIndexUSA

Olympia, WA vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Olympia
103.7
overall index
$2,025/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Olympia — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Olympia, you would need $74,800 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.0%
Olympia
116.7
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries5.0%
Olympia
105
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Olympia
104.4
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Olympia
94.5
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+45.3%
Olympia
91.7
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 103.7) = salary × 0.9354. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Olympia, WA

Median Home Price
$518,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,025
Housing Index
116.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.3×

Rochester, NY

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

Olympia has 25.0% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Olympia, WA

Median Household Income
$93,200
Per Capita Income
$53,100
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
53,532
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationRetailManufacturing

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).

Olympia, WA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.