Rochester, NY at a glance
Median household income
$47,213$3,934 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Rochester, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Rochester, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,116 | $13,392 | $44,640 | 28.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,256 | $15,072 | $50,240 | 31.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,573 | $18,876 | $62,920 | 40% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,895 | $22,740 | $75,800 | 48.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,083 | $24,996 | $83,320 | 52.9% |
What a typical income covers in Rochester, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $47,213 a year ($3,934 a month before tax).
What $47,213 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Rochester, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Rochester, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Rochester, NY is $47,213 per year (approximately $3,934 per month).
What is the average rent in Rochester, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,116 for a studio, $1,256 for one bedroom, $1,573 for two, $1,895 for three and $2,083 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Rochester, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 97.0, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Rochester, NY?
To keep a $1,573 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $62,920 a year, or $5,243 a month. That is 133% of what the typical household in Rochester, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Rochester, NY?
On the local median income of $47,213 ($3,934 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,967 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,180 for everything else and $787 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,573 takes 80% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Rochester, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.