Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 34% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$815
$750
+8% in Huntsville, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$857
+5% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,114
+3% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,240
+1% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$120,600
+54% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$46,628
+34% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$51,210
+1% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.5 yr
+2.9 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
37.2%
+20.9 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
29.9%
+16.3 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
18.9 min
+0.4 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
690
+43% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
2,395.7
3,533.4
+47% in Rochester, NY

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
48.2°F
+13.9°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
34.3 in
+20.1 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.13/gal
+14% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.5
+80% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$27.01
+12% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rochester, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Huntsville, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / NY)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
10.90%
+5.9 pp in NY

Huntsville vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Rochester?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Rochester?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).