What is the cost of living in Rochester, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rochester has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Rochester has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Rochester ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Rochester ranks as the #297 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Rochester, check out:
Rochester Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rochester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rochester is 109.
The Groceries index in Rochester is 113.
The Health index in Rochester is 62.
The Housing index in Rochester is 113.
The Transportation index in Rochester is 111.
The Utilities index in Rochester is 111.
| Living Expense | Rochester | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
Rochester Cost Of Living Compared To New York Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Rochester Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rochester, NY Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Rochester is $235,783.
The Median Rent in Rochester is $1,081.
The Median Income in Rochester is $47,213.
The Home Value To Income in Rochester is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rochester is 0.27x.
Rochester, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Rochester Services costs vs. New York
Detailed Rochester Groceries costs vs. New York
Detailed Rochester Health costs vs. New York
Detailed Rochester Transportation costs vs. New York
Rochester SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rochester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rochester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Irondequoit, NY has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Rochester.
Brighton, NY has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Rochester.
Greece, NY has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Rochester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irondequoit, NY | 50,657 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Brighton, NY | 36,834 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Greece, NY | 13,943 | 102 | 1.1x |
| North Gates, NY | 9,904 | 102 | 1.1x |
| East Rochester, NY | 6,218 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Hilton, NY | 5,968 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Webster, NY | 5,718 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Fairport, NY | 5,403 | 111 | 1.1x |
