CostIndexUSA

Rockford, IL vs Syracuse, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
NY
Syracuse
95.7
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Rockford is slightly cheaper than Syracuse — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Rockford, you would need $83,000 in Syracuse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+15.1%
Rockford
70.1
Syracuse
80.7
🛒 Groceries+6.5%
Rockford
93.6
Syracuse
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Rockford
104.6
Syracuse
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Rockford
94.6
Syracuse
92.9
Utilities+49.2%
Rockford
89.4
Syracuse
133.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Syracuse, NY
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Syracuse

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 92.2) = salary × 1.0380. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Rockford, IL

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
70.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.3×

Syracuse, NY

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
80.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.0×

Syracuse has 15.1% higher housing costs compared to Rockford.

Income & Job Market

Rockford, IL

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
148,123
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Syracuse, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
148,458
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Syracuse, NY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.