CostIndexUSA

Rochester, NY vs Spokane, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
WA
Spokane
100.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Spokane — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rochester, you would need $82,700 in Spokane. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.0%
Rochester
87.5
Spokane
97.1
🛒 Groceries+5.3%
Rochester
99.7
Spokane
105
🚗 Transportation+1.8%
Rochester
102.6
Spokane
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.7%
Rochester
92.9
Spokane
94.5
Utilities31.5%
Rochester
133.2
Spokane
91.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spokane, WA
$82,700
$2,700 more needed in Spokane

Formula: salary × (100.3 ÷ 97) = salary × 1.0340. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rochester, NY

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

Spokane, WA

Median Home Price
$406,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
97.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Spokane has 11.0% higher housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Rochester, NY

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

Spokane, WA

Median Household Income
$72,800
Per Capita Income
$41,500
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
228,989
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationGovernmentManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Spokane, WA
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.