Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rochester?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Reno vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 41% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Reno, NV

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$964

$750

+22% in Reno, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$857

+29% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,114

+27% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,240

+34% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$120,600

+76% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$46,628

+41% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$51,210

+3% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

33.5 yr

+3.8 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

49.4%

37.2%

+12.2 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

29.9%

+5.8 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.6 min

18.9 min

+1.7 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

690

+30% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

2,489.3

3,533.4

+42% 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

53.8°F

48.2°F

+5.6°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

34.3 in

+26.9 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$4.04/gal

+21% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

29.9

+120% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$22.74

+88% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / NY)

6.85%

+2.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

Reno vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Reno versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or Rochester?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).