Cost of Living in New York (NY)
Compare costs across 9 New York cities. From home services to salaries, see how NY stacks up against the national average.
9
Cities
112
Avg Cost Index
$49K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
New York's average cost index is 112, which is above the national baseline of 100. Buffalo is the most affordable tracked city in NY at index 89, while New York is the most expensive at index 187.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 98 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
New York Highlights: Most affordable city: Buffalo (index 89). Most expensive: New York (index 187). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 98 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
112/100
New York is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Buffalo
Buffalo has a cost index of 89.
Most expensive
New York
New York has a cost index of 187.
Income average
$49K
Average median household income across 9 tracked NY cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in New York
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 8.3M | 187 | $67K | major |
| Buffalo | 278K | 89 | $37K | mid |
| Yonkers | 212K | 142 | $66K | mid |
| Rochester | 211K | 90 | $37K | mid |
| Syracuse | 149K | 92 | $35K | mid |
| Albany | 99K | 98 | $45K | small |
| Schenectady | 68K | 90 | $43K | small |
| Ithaca | 32K | 105 | $35K | small |
| Saratoga Springs | 28K | 112 | $74K | small |
New York State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in New York.
State Income Tax
4-10.9%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
8.52%
4% state + 4.52% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
1.72%
~$5,160/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: New York uses a progressive income tax at 4-10.9%. Estate tax applies at the state level. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Buffalo if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside New York.
- Compare New York against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.