Odessa vs Syracuse
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Odessa
Syracuse
The Verdict
Living in Odessa costs 7.6% less than Syracuse. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Odessa, you would need $81,176 in Syracuse.
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 $81,176 in Syracuse.
Conversely, $75,000 in Syracuse equals $69,293 in Odessa.
Living in Odessa vs Syracuse
Housing Costs
Odessa's housing index of 72 is higher Syracuse's 69, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $140,000. The $83,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,400 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $950/mo in Syracuse, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 101 in Syracuse. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $480/month in Syracuse. 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 Syracuse. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $420 in Syracuse. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 100 in Syracuse. 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 $36,708 in Syracuse. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $39,900 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 $857/month in Syracuse. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Syracuse, median rent of $950/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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