Ithaca vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ithaca
Vienna
The Verdict
Vienna is 6.8% less expensive than Ithaca overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ithaca would need approximately $70,213 in Vienna to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $70,213 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $80,114 in Ithaca.
Living in Ithaca vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Ithaca's housing index of 117 is higher Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $395,000. The $71,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1020/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Ithaca and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Ithaca and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,600 in Ithaca and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 and $54,545 respectively. Vienna residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Groceries, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases