Cost of Living in New York
Updated November 2026 · population 19,852,366
New York prices are 7.9% above the US average (index 107.9), ranking 5th most expensive of 51 states and DC; utilities is the biggest cost driver at 134.4, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $3,229 a month.
Prices by category
New York price index by category, US average = 100: All items 107.9, Housing (rents) 122.2, Goods 107.3, Utilities 134.4, Other services 104.1
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| New York (whole state) | 107.9 |
| Metropolitan areas of New York | 109.0 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of New York | 91.6 |
Cities in New York
Select a column heading to sort.
| New York | 8,483,844 | 113.5 | $3,490 | $6,335 | $1,821 | $777,600 |
| Buffalo | 276,854 | 95.7 | $2,474 | $4,917 | $1,046 | $164,200 |
| Yonkers | 209,978 | 112.9 | $3,366 | $6,333 | $1,784 | $501,600 |
| Rochester | 208,772 | 96.5 | $2,494 | $5,113 | $1,081 | $139,600 |
| Syracuse | 146,384 | 95.2 | $2,458 | $5,031 | $1,039 | $138,400 |
| Albany | 100,492 | 98.6 | $2,647 | $5,307 | $1,216 | $234,700 |
| New Rochelle | 82,769 | 114.8 | $3,544 | $6,830 | $1,917 | $702,500 |
| Cheektowaga | 76,056 | 95.8 | $2,413 | $5,018 | $1,055 | $185,500 |
| Mount Vernon | 72,427 | 110.8 | $3,164 | $6,273 | $1,629 | $484,000 |
| Schenectady | 68,847 | 97.5 | $2,594 | $5,083 | $1,145 | $168,800 |
| Utica | 64,217 | 93.1 | $2,328 | $4,773 | $951 | $151,300 |
| White Plains | 60,666 | 119.7 | $3,839 | $6,886 | $2,269 | $620,800 |
| Hempstead | 58,801 | 110.7 | $3,269 | $6,110 | $1,622 | $459,500 |
| Tonawanda Town | 56,806 | 96.5 | $2,618 | $4,920 | $1,102 | $215,200 |
| Levittown | 51,904 | 125.1 | $4,077 | $7,266 | $2,656 | $590,500 |
| Troy | 51,033 | 98.0 | $2,676 | $5,140 | $1,175 | $206,500 |
| Irondequoit | 50,657 | 97.6 | $2,630 | $5,393 | $1,159 | $182,500 |
| Ithaca | 32,814 | 103.5 | $2,964 | $5,847 | $1,447 | $342,700 |
| Saratoga Springs | 28,631 | 102.3 | $3,022 | $6,244 | $1,470 | $478,100 |
Metro areas in New York
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 112.6 | 148.6 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 109.4 | 115.8 |
| Ithaca, NY | 103.3 | 128.4 |
| Kingston, NY | 100.7 | 110.2 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 99.6 | 102.6 |
| Rochester, NY | 97.0 | 87.5 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 95.8 | 81.0 |
| Syracuse, NY | 95.7 | 80.7 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 94.9 | 76.2 |
| Elmira, NY | 94.4 | 76.4 |
| Binghamton, NY | 92.9 | 69.7 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 92.7 | 66.1 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 87.7 | 53.2 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of New York.
Modelled monthly budget at New York average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for New York (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,385 | $16,620 | 43% |
| Utilities | $328 | $3,936 | 10% |
| Food at home | $303 | $3,636 | 9% |
| Transportation | $669 | $8,028 | 21% |
| Health care | $366 | $4,392 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $178 | $2,136 | 6% |
| Total | $3,229 | $38,748 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for New York (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,464 | $17,568 | 30% |
| Utilities | $524 | $6,288 | 11% |
| Food at home | $559 | $6,708 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,326 | $15,912 | 27% |
| Health care | $678 | $8,136 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $351 | $4,212 | 7% |
| Total | $4,902 | $58,824 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for New York (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,652 | $19,824 | 28% |
| Utilities | $638 | $7,656 | 11% |
| Food at home | $797 | $9,564 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,761 | $21,132 | 30% |
| Health care | $632 | $7,584 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $452 | $5,424 | 8% |
| Total | $5,932 | $71,184 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
28.65¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change +7.5% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline
$4.22/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +40.4% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Northeast region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 109.4 | 110.1 | 109.6 | 107.6 | 107.8 | 107.9 |
Change over the period: −1.5 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is New York an expensive state to live in?
New York has a cost of living index of 107.9 (US = 100), 7.9% above the US average. It ranks 5th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 122.2 (rank 8), goods 107.3, utilities 134.4 and other services 104.1. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in New York?
At New York state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $3,229 for a single adult, $4,902 for a couple and $5,932 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 109.0 and nonmetro areas 91.6.
What is the median rent and home value in New York?
The median gross rent in New York is $1,621 a month and the median home value is $423,800 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 31.2% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 36.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (New York, 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Northeast region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology