Rochester vs Tyler
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Rochester
Tyler
The Verdict
Tyler is 10.6% less expensive than Rochester overall. A household earning $75,000 in Rochester would need approximately $67,819 in Tyler 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 Rochester has the same purchasing power as $67,819 in Tyler.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tyler equals $82,941 in Rochester.
Living in Rochester vs Tyler
Housing Costs
Rochester's housing index of 73 is higher Tyler's 69, translating to median home prices of $155,000 vs $250,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Rochester compared to $1,075/mo in Tyler, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Rochester and 96 in Tyler. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Rochester vs $456/month in Tyler. 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 105 in Rochester and 97 in Tyler. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Rochester vs $388 in Tyler. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Rochester and 93 in Tyler. 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 $39,728 in Rochester and $54,800 in Tyler. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $42,264 and $64,471 respectively. Tyler residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $927/month to housing in Rochester vs $1,279/month in Tyler. In Rochester, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Tyler, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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