Cost of Living in Rochester, NY

Population 209,720 · New York · Data vintage 2023

Cost Index
(100 = US avg)

Page updated: April 2026 · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year

Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

At $46,628, median household incomes in Rochester land roughly 37% below the US median, a gap that tends to persist across local labor-market indicators. At 7.9%, the local unemployment rate runs well above the US figure, pointing to structural rather than cyclical labor-market issues.

Cost Overview

Housing 40

Rent 79

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Rochester

The median home value in Rochester is $120,600 — 60% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,039/month, 21% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $46,628/year is 37% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 7.9%, above the national average of 4.8%. New York's top state income tax rate is 10.9% and the combined sales tax is 8.5%. The climate averages highs of 58.5°F and lows of 40.6°F, with about 102" of annual snowfall. Overall, Rochester has a cost of living index of 55 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 45% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value

$120,600

60% below avg

Zillow Home Value

$228,692

Zillow ZHVI

Median Rent

$1,039/mo

21% below avg

Zillow Rent

$1,433/mo

Zillow ZORI

Price-to-Rent Ratio

9.7x

Favors buying

Property Tax Rate

1.7%

Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio

$965

1 BR

$1,051

2 BR

$1,302

3 BR

$1,619

4 BR

$1,813

Owner-occupied 37.2%

Renter-occupied 62.8%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent

$1,039

Groceries national estimate

$400

Utilities local estimate

$88

Transportation local gas prices

$126

Estimated Total $1,653/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚

Eggs (dozen)

$0.548

🍞

White Bread (lb)

$1.912

🥩

Ground Beef (lb)

$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute

20.7 min

23% below avg

Gas Price

$3.145/gal

0% below avg

Work From Home

10.8%

Commute Mode

Drove alone

65.8%

Carpooled

10.6%

Public transit

5.4%

Walked

4.1%

Bicycle

1.1%

Work from home

10.8%

⚡ Utilities

Electricity

$0.176/kWh

0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 10.9%

Total Sales Tax 8.5%

State rate 4.0%

Avg local rate 4.5%

Property Tax 1.7%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income

$46,628

37% below avg

Per Capita Income

$30,451

Unemployment Rate

7.9%

65% above avg

Poverty Rate

26.6%

Labor Force Participation

62.5%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 17.3%

Graduate degree 12.6%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 33.5

Male median age 32.2

Female median age 34.5

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High

58.5°F

Avg Low

40.6°F

Annual Precip

35.1"

Annual Snowfall

102"

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	33	35	44	57	69	78	83	81	74	61	49	39
Low °F	19	20	27	37	48	57	62	61	54	43	34	25
Precip"	2.55	2.13	2.49	2.99	2.86	3.37	3.56	3.31	3.18	3.22	2.76	2.67
Snow"	27.4	23.1	17.9	3.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	8.1	22.3

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 42 — Good

64.9%

Good air days/yr

176

Max AQI recorded

237

PM2.5 days

128

Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

77.5%

4-Year Graduation Rate

10.4:1

Student-teacher ratio

Public schools

56,734

Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Rochester, NY?

Rochester has a cost index of 55 (100 = national average). It is 45% below the national average.

What is average rent in Rochester, NY?

The median gross rent in Rochester is $1,039 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Rochester?

The median home value in Rochester is $120,600 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Rochester?

The median household income in Rochester is $46,628 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Rochester, NY?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Rochester is 8.5%. The New York state income tax top rate is 10.9%.

Is Rochester, NY affordable?

Yes, Rochester is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 55 — about 45% below the US national average of 100.

What is the weather like in Rochester?

Rochester has average high temperatures of 58.5°F and average lows of 40.6°F. Annual precipitation is 35.1". Average annual snowfall is 102". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Rochester at a Glance

Population: 209,720
Median Income: $46,628
Home Value: $120,600
Median Rent: $1,039/mo
Unemployment: 7.9%
Avg High Temp: 58.5°F
Sales Tax: 8.5%

View all cities in New York →

Nearby Cities

Compare Rochester

🗺️ County data for New York

Explore county-level cost of living data

New York Rankings

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs