CostIndexUSA

Salinas, CA vs Syracuse, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Salinas
109
overall index
$2,875/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Syracuse
95.7
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Syracuse is moderately cheaper than Salinas — 12.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salinas, you would need $70,200 in Syracuse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing44.6%
Salinas
145.7
Syracuse
80.7
🛒 Groceries5.2%
Salinas
105.2
Syracuse
99.7
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Salinas
105.3
Syracuse
102.6
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Salinas
95.3
Syracuse
92.9
Utilities13.5%
Salinas
154.2
Syracuse
133.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Syracuse, NY
$70,200
$9,800 less needed in Syracuse

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 109) = salary × 0.8780. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salinas, CA

Median Home Price
$826,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
145.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.9×

Syracuse, NY

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

Salinas has 44.6% lower housing costs compared to Syracuse.

Income & Job Market

Salinas, CA

Median Household Income
$88,000
Per Capita Income
$50,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
163,542
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducation

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).

Salinas, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% 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.