
By Bus
This is the cheapest way to get between the two, but also varies widely in comfort. Chances are you're in for a long, uncomfortable ride. To quote Goldman Sachs Elevator, "If riding the bus doesn't incentivize you to improve your station in life, nothing will." It's 6 hours for the trip (one-way) usually. There are times when it only takes 5, and an act of God can get you stuck onboard for 8. Say a prayer. There are three major bus operators that run this route. Average ticket price seems to be about $30 one-way.Greyhound



Trailways
I'm reluctant to even list Trailways as it's own thing - they're a regional company that sometimes picks up slack with Greyhound. Even if you buy a ticket directly from their website, chances are you'll be put on a Greyhound bus. The companies pool resources for this route. Same times and stuff. Of the 90 or so times I've ever taken the bus, one time a few years ago it ended up Trailways. Based on that experience - they're ugly white buses, usually old. There won't be outlets, WiFi, or as much legroom on the Greyhound fleet. Price will be the same (about $30 one-way).
MegaBus


By Car
You can drive. It takes between 4 and 5 hours, usually faster than the bus.

By Train
This is by far the most scenic way to travel, and dare I say the most "pleasant." It's a relaxing 6 hour trip. Maybe there's just something romantic about train travel.
By Plane
If you fly between New York and Syracuse, chances are you'll either be on JetBlue or Delta. They run multiple flights a day at pretty much the same times. It takes about 65 minutes from boarding to deboarding, with 35 minutes actually in the air. Prices for both are about the same - $75 to $110 one-way if booking a month in advance. If you book like 4 months in advance, I've gotten roundtrip on a weekend for $140 with Expedia. It probably would've been even cheaper with Skyscanner - I highly recommend Skyscanner for booking your flights. That will find you the cheapest ticket, without a doubt. Syracuse's Hancock International Airport is pretty hokey, all things considered. But hokey in a good way - it's a small and manageable part of the trip. New York metro airports can be sources of stress. It's only "international" because of flights with nearby Canada.