Is Binghamton cheaper than South Bend?

They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Binghamton and South Bend metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.

Which has higher household income, Binghamton or South Bend?

Binghamton has the higher median household income — $65,599 versus $63,894 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 3% more.

Does a paycheck go further in Binghamton or South Bend?

It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($70,641 versus $68,808).

Which has cheaper rent, Binghamton or South Bend?

Binghamton has cheaper rent — a median of $981/mo versus $1,101/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).

Binghamton vs South Bend

Metro-area medians — Binghamton, NY Metro Area vs South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area — not the cities proper.

Binghamton comes out ahead, winning 5 of the 6 clearly-decided measures.

Binghamton and South Bend are closely matched on both cost of living and household income. Adjusted for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches about as far in either.

Their widest everyday difference: Binghamton has the tighter job market — 4.8% unemployment versus 6.1%.

For your salary & household

Enter your pay and household size to see what it's really worth here — the numbers update live and the link stays shareable.

Annual salary (gross)

Household size

Binghamton, NY

$57,794

take-home / yr · 23% to tax

$62,235

real value after local prices

South Bend, IN

$59,064

take-home / yr · 21% to tax

$63,606

real value after local prices

On $75,000 for just you, South Bend leaves you about $1,371/yr better off after tax and local prices.

Take-home estimates a single filer taking the standard deduction (2025 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax) and isn't tax advice. “Real value” rebases take-home to average U.S. prices using the BEA cost-of-living index; the per-person figure uses the OECD square-root equivalence scale.

Measure

Binghamton

South Bend

Livability (CityLedger)

39/100

33/100

Cost of living (price level, US = 100)

92.9

Cost-adjusted income (pay's real value)

$70,641

$68,808

Median household income

$65,599

$63,894

Median rent

$981/mo

$1,101/mo

Median home value

$161,600

$216,500

Unemployment

4.8%

6.1%

Bachelor's degree or higher

29.1%

31.1%

Average commute

19.9 min

21.8 min

Air quality (median AQI)

—

Avg temperature

46°F

49°F

Choose Binghamton for

+ Livability (CityLedger)
+ Median rent
+ Median home value
+ Unemployment
+ Average commute

Full Binghamton profile →

Choose South Bend for

+ Bachelor's degree or higher

Full South Bend profile →

More comparisons

Metros closest to Binghamton and South Bend on cost, income, size, and education.

Binghamton vs Erie→Binghamton vs Utica→Binghamton vs Evansville→South Bend vs Amarillo→South Bend vs Waco→South Bend vs Fort Wayne→

Binghamton vs South Bend — frequently asked

Is Binghamton cheaper than South Bend?: They are about even — the overall cost of living in the Binghamton and South Bend metros is within 3% of each other (BEA Regional Price Parities), so neither is meaningfully cheaper.
Which has higher household income, Binghamton or South Bend?: Binghamton has the higher median household income — $65,599 versus $63,894 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS), about 3% more.
Does a paycheck go further in Binghamton or South Bend?: It is roughly a wash. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck is worth about the same in both metros ($70,641 versus $68,808).
Which has cheaper rent, Binghamton or South Bend?: Binghamton has cheaper rent — a median of $981/mo versus $1,101/mo (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS).