CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Syracuse, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Syracuse
95.7
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Syracuse is slightly cheaper than Harrisburg — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $77,600 in Syracuse. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.2%
Harrisburg
96.3
Syracuse
80.7
🛒 Groceries1.0%
Harrisburg
100.7
Syracuse
99.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Harrisburg
102.6
Syracuse
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Harrisburg
92.8
Syracuse
92.9
Utilities+23.4%
Harrisburg
108.1
Syracuse
133.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Syracuse, NY
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Syracuse

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 0.9696. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Syracuse, NY

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

Harrisburg has 16.2% lower housing costs compared to Syracuse.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

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).

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.