Rarely do two shooters submit identical estimates for the same job. For the professionals who've weathered years in the business, pricing their photography is more than a game, it's a practiced skill in which accuracy is the key to winning. Most photographers base their pricing on a day's work, their day rate. Some types of photography command higher rates than others. Those who shoot in-studio still life, fashion, and images for advertising are at the high end of the range, while editorial shooters typically are paid less.
Some photographers are fortunate to work in any city at near-New York rates.
It's not the city you're in, it's the market. Your rates are what you make them. In reality, the day rate is a creative fee and does not include expenses, such as film and processing, travel, models, stylists, assistants, unusual equipment, or props. The term, 'day rate,' creates too many problems in buyers' minds about what they're getting, or not getting. Disagreement exists over whether the day rate has remained flat or decreased over the past five to ten years.