Odessa vs Rochester
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Odessa
Rochester
The Verdict
Odessa is 9.6% less expensive than Rochester overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $82,941 in Rochester 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 Odessa has the same purchasing power as $82,941 in Rochester.
Conversely, $75,000 in Rochester equals $67,819 in Odessa.
Living in Odessa vs Rochester
Housing Costs
Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower Rochester's 73, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $155,000. The $68,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,416 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,000/mo in Rochester, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 101 in Rochester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $480/month in Rochester. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Odessa and 105 in Rochester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $420 in Rochester. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 100 in Rochester. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $73,500 in Odessa and $39,728 in Rochester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $42,264 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $927/month in Rochester. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Rochester, median rent of $1,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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