Is Rochester expensive to live in?

Rochester is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $857 per month ranks #92 of 112 and is 21% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Rochester?

Average rent in Rochester, NY runs a studio around $750, a one-bedroom around $857, a two-bedroom around $1,114, a three-bedroom around $1,240 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Rochester?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $857 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year. The median household income here is $46,628.

How much does it cost to live in Rochester per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Rochester is about $1,160 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Rochester, NY

Population 209,720 · New York

~$1,160/mo est.1BR $857Home $120,600

Photo: Yassine Khalfalli / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Rochester, NY is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $857 a month — 21% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $750 and two-bedrooms $1,114.

Median household income here is $46,628, 33% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,160 before food and transport. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $857

Studio

$750

1 Bedroom

$857

2 Bedroom

$1,114

3 Bedroom

$1,240

Buying a Home$120,600

Median Home Value

$120,600

Income$46,628

Median Household Income

$46,628

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,210

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.9¢/kWh

Electricity

29.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$22.74/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.04/gal

Regular Gasoline (New York)

$4.04/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (NY)4% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 10.90%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime690 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

690

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,533.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Rochester Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.5 yrs

Median Age

33.5 yrs

Homeownership

37.2%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.9%

Avg Commute

18.9 min

Climate48.2°F

Avg Annual Temperature

48.2°F

Annual Precipitation

34.3 in

Rochester cost of living — FAQ

Is Rochester expensive to live in?: Rochester is among the more affordable of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $857 per month ranks #92 of 112 and is 21% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Rochester?: Average rent in Rochester, NY runs a studio around $750, a one-bedroom around $857, a two-bedroom around $1,114, a three-bedroom around $1,240 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Rochester?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $857 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year. The median household income here is $46,628.
How much does it cost to live in Rochester per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Rochester is about $1,160 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Rochester with nearby cities

Rochester vs Buffalo Rochester vs Allentown Rochester vs Pittsburgh Rochester vs Burlington Rochester vs Cleveland Rochester vs Newark

Nearby cities

Buffalo, NY 67 mi Allentown, PA 207 mi Pittsburgh, PA 224 mi Burlington, VT 237 mi Cleveland, OH 238 mi Newark, NJ 243 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.