Overall
97.0
-3.0 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Rochester, NY
Cost-of-living indicators for Rochester, NY, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 40380 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #128 of 387
Rochester, NY has a cost of living index of 97.0, meaning it's 3.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 0.3% less, services 33.2% more, and rents are 12.5% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $103,056 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Rochester
Rochester ranks #128 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 97.0, Rochester, NY is 3.0% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Rochester's most and least expensive categories — services at 133.2 versus rents at 87.5 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $103,056 inside Rochester, while a household needs roughly $97,035 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 87.5 — 12.5% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Rochester's overall index has fallen by 3.8 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 99.7 and services at 133.2, meaning everyday spending in Rochester is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Rochester Cost Index at a Glance
Rochester all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Rochester category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
99.7
-0.3 below avg
Services
133.2
+33.2 above avg
Rents
87.5
-12.5 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 97.0 (-3.0 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 99.7 (-0.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 133.2 (+33.2 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 87.5 (-12.5 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +33.2% (133.2)
Below National Average
Rents -12.5% (87.5)
Overall -3.0% (97.0)
Goods -0.3% (99.7)
Income Adequacy in Rochester
Rochester income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 97.0
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$97,035
in Rochester, NY purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,518
$75,000 nationally
$72,776
$125,000 nationally
$121,294
$150,000 nationally
$145,553
$200,000 nationally
$194,070
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.8 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.8 |
| 2009 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 98.2 |
| 2012 | 98.5 |
| 2013 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 98.0 |
| 2015 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 99.8 |
| 2017 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 99.0 |
| 2019 | 97.7 |
| 2020 | 97.3 |
| 2021 | 97.5 |
| 2022 | 95.4 |
| 2023 | 98.4 |
| 2024 | 97.0 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Rochester, NY's index of 97.0.
Other NY Metros
Related Data for Rochester
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Rochester area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Rochester metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Rochester
School Districts
NCES school data for Rochester area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Rochester area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Rochester, NY? ▼
Rochester, NY has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.0, meaning it is 3.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 99.7, services at 133.2, and rents at 87.5. It ranks #128 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Rochester, NY to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $97,035 in Rochester, NY. Conversely, $100K earned in Rochester, NY has the purchasing power of $103,056 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Rochester, NY? ▼
Rents in Rochester, NY are indexed at 87.5, which is 12.5% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Rochester, NY getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Rochester, NY's overall cost index changed by -3.8 points (from 100.8 to 97.0). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Rochester, NY? ▼
The most expensive category in Rochester, NY is services at 133.2, which is 33.2% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 87.5, 12.5% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Rochester, NY? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Reading, Milwaukee-Waukesha. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Rochester, NY's 97.0.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
