City Comparison
Rourkela vs Binghamton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Rourkela scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Rourkela
Binghamton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Rourkela is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
84% lower than in Binghamton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Rourkela's average rent is
88% lower than Binghamton's.
| Metric | Rourkela | Binghamton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $140 | $1,138 | -88% |
| Groceries | $120 | $404 | -70% |
| Utilities | $35 | $194 | -82% |
| Transport | $25 | $312 | -92% |
| Healthcare | $45 | $226 | -80% |
| Monthly Total | $365 | $2,274 | -84% |
| Cost Index | 32 | 110 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Binghamton offers 99% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Binghamton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Rourkela is estimated at
$300 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
| Metric | Rourkela | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $520 | $55,000 |
| Salary Needed | $300 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 1,625 idx | 50,000 idx |
| Household Income | $6,800 | $45,578 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Rourkela runs warmer on average — a 79.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Rourkela comes out ahead with 229 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Rourkela sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Rourkela | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 79.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 89.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 56.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 76.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 229 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Rourkela.
Rourkela scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Rourkela leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Rourkela | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 16 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Walkability | 65.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 30.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Rourkela is the larger city
— approximately 11.8x the population of Binghamton.
From a growth perspective, Rourkela is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Binghamton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Rourkela | Binghamton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 553,000 | 46,773 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.90% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 35.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | $13.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Rourkela
Advantages
Cost of living is exceptionally low, allowing residents to save significantly compared to major Indian metros.
Home to world-class sports infrastructure, including the world's largest seated hockey stadium (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium).
Presence of premier educational institutions like NIT Rourkela drives a strong intellectual and technical community.
Planned sector-based city layout provides organized neighborhoods with abundant green spaces and wide roads.
Strong healthcare ecosystem anchored by major multi-specialty facilities like Ispat General Hospital and Jaiprakash Hospital.
Drawbacks
Air quality can be periodically impacted by surrounding heavy steel manufacturing and industrial operations.
Limited direct commercial air connectivity restricts rapid long-distance business travel options.
Summer temperatures regularly rise to high levels, creating intense seasonal heatwaves.
Employment opportunities outside of heavy manufacturing, steel, and education remain somewhat limited.
Public mass transit infrastructure lacks a formalized city-wide metro or structured municipal bus grid.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Rourkela
#90Odisha (Orissa), India
78.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$140
Avg Salary
$520
Cost Index
32
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
65.0/100
Sunny Days
229/yr
Avg Temp
79.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.90%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
Binghamton
#603New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
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