Cost of living in the Rochester Metro Area
5 counties across NY. Population: 1,058,875.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Rochester Metro Area
Average rent across the Rochester metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Rochester Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 5 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Rochester Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Rochester Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 5 counties in the Rochester Metro Area
The Rochester metro area includes 5 counties. Sorted by population.
- Rochester NY$3,388/moPop754,068 Rent$1,149/mo Income$74,409/yrRochester NY 754,068 $1,149/mo $74,409/yr $3,388/mo
- Ontario County NY$3,388/moPop112,405 Rent$1,149/mo Income$79,814/yrOntario County NY 112,405 $1,149/mo $79,814/yr $3,388/mo
- Wayne County NY$3,368/moPop91,128 Rent$1,149/mo Income$73,914/yrWayne County NY 91,128 $1,149/mo $73,914/yr $3,368/mo
- Livingston County NY$3,264/moPop61,588 Rent$1,149/mo Income$72,464/yrLivingston County NY 61,588 $1,149/mo $72,464/yr $3,264/mo
- Orleans County NY$3,282/moPop39,686 Rent$1,149/mo Income$63,838/yrOrleans County NY 39,686 $1,149/mo $63,838/yr $3,282/mo
Compare counties in the Rochester Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Rochester Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Rochester Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Rochester metro area is approximately $3,375 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 5 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Rochester Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Rochester metro area is $1,149 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Rochester Metro Area?
Livingston County, NY is the most affordable county in the Rochester metro area at approximately $3,264 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Rochester Metro Area?
Ontario County, NY is the most expensive county in the Rochester metro area at approximately $3,388 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Rochester Metro Area?
The Rochester metro area covers 5 counties. The five largest by population are Rochester, Ontario County, Wayne County, Livingston County, Orleans County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.