City Comparison

Syracuse vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Syracuse

New York
92
Below Average
$140,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$36,708
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

35.2%

Living in Syracuse costs 35.2% less than Yonkers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Syracuse, you would need $115,761 in Yonkers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
69
Syracuse
203
Yonkers
Groceries
101
Syracuse
106
Yonkers
Utilities
105
Syracuse
117
Yonkers
Transportation
101
Syracuse
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
100
Syracuse
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Syracuse has the same purchasing power as $115,761 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $48,592 in Syracuse.

Living in Syracuse vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Syracuse's housing index of 69 is lower Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $140,000 vs $635,000. The $495,000 difference in home prices means roughly $32,172 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Syracuse compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $1,250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Syracuse and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Syracuse vs $504/month in Yonkers. 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 Syracuse and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Syracuse vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Syracuse and 107 in Yonkers. 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 $36,708 in Syracuse and $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $39,900 and $56,761 respectively. Yonkers residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $857/month to housing in Syracuse vs $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Syracuse, median rent of $950/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 134 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Syracuse is 35.2% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 142.
A $75,000 salary in Syracuse has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $115,761 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Syracuse's housing index is 69 with median homes at $140,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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