Cost of living in New York, NY
Livability score 43 · cost-of-living index 112.6 (US = 100)
How New York compares
Where New York falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Map of New York
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Cost of living
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 112.6 | metro-area | #192 of 200 |
| Grocery index (US=100) | 108.3 | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Big Mac price (est.) | $6.41 | metro-area | #192 of 200 |
| Median household income | $93,610 | metro-area | #19 of 200 |
| Median wage (all occupations) | $51,762 | metro-area | #9 of 200 |
Who lives here
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 years | metro-area | #125 of 200 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 43.5% | metro-area | #19 of 200 |
| Foreign-born residents | 29.8% | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 51.5% | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
Economy
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.55% | metro-area | #173 of 200 |
| Population growth (5-yr) | -1.4% | metro-area | #186 of 200 |
Housing — what your money buys
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $727,625 | metro-area | #186 of 200 |
| Home price ÷ income (affordability) | 7.8× | metro-area | #187 of 200 |
| 1-yr home appreciation | +4.1% | metro-area | #31 of 200 |
| Price per square foot | $455 | metro-area | #189 of 200 |
| Typical home size (implied) | 1,600 sqft | ||
| Median rent (monthly) | $3,503 | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Homes for sale (inventory) | 45,297 | ||
| Median days on market | 23 | metro-area | #134 of 200 |
Taxes
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tax burden (est. % of income) | 15.9% | state | #193 of 200 |
| Combined sales tax | 8.52% | state | #141 of 200 |
| State income tax (top rate) | 10.90% | ||
| Capital gains tax | 10.90% | state | #171 of 200 |
| High earners | Top rates up to 10.9% on multimillion-dollar incomes | ||
| Social Security in retirement | Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits | ||
| Effective property tax rate | 1.74% | metro-area | #171 of 200 |
| Median property tax paid | $9,614 | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
Health & childcare
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 80.3 years | metro-area | #19 of 200 |
| Healthcare (annual, single adult) | $7,800 | state | #182 of 200 |
| Uninsured (share of residents) | 6.9% | metro-area | #60 of 200 |
| Primary care providers per 100k | 84 | metro-area | #59 of 200 |
| Childcare (annual, infant, center) | $17,000 | state | #170 of 200 |
Vehicles & commute
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual registration | $70 | state | #38 of 200 |
| Vehicle property tax (annual) | None | state | #1 of 200 |
| Emissions testing | Required | ||
| Emissions detail | Required in major metro counties | ||
| DMV & license offices | 2 | ||
| Avg commute to work | 36 min | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
| Commute by driving alone | 45.5% | metro-area | #1 of 200 |
| Solo drivers commuting 30+ min | 52.2% | metro-area | #197 of 200 |
Utilities & fuel
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 29.4¢/kWh | state | #166 of 200 |
| Avg monthly electric bill | $265 | state | #166 of 200 |
| Gasoline | $3.45/gal | state | #142 of 200 |
| Natural gas (avg monthly bill) | $98 | state | #186 of 200 |
| Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) | $87 | state | #57 of 200 |
| Home internet (avg monthly bill) | $76 | state | #20 of 200 |
Insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home insurance (annual) | $1,600 | state | #80 of 200 |
| Auto insurance (annual) | $2,100 | state | #126 of 200 |
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main natural hazards | Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. | ||
| FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) | 96.8 — Relatively High | metro-area | #164 of 200 |
| Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) | $800 | state | #120 of 200 |
| Earthquake insurance (annual) | $100 | state | #1 of 200 |
Climate & air quality
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) | 52 | metro-area | #151 of 200 |
| Cooling degree-days (AC load) | 700 | metro-area | #25 of 200 |
| Homes with air conditioning (state) | 88% | state | #143 of 200 |
| Heating degree-days (heat load) | 6,000 | metro-area | #168 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 90°F | 12 | metro-area | #54 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 100°F | 0 | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Avg summer high (state) | 83°F | metro-area | #21 of 200 |
| Avg winter low | 16°F | metro-area | #168 of 200 |
| Annual precipitation | 49.5" | metro-area | #154 of 200 |
| Annual snowfall | 29.8" | metro-area | #144 of 200 |
| Sunshine (% of possible) | 58% | metro-area | #105 of 200 |
| Plant hardiness zone | 6a | ||
| Frost window | 04-30 → 10-15 |
Safety
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) | 350 | state | #51 of 200 |
| Property crime (per 100k, state avg) | 1,450 | state | #24 of 200 |
Local amenities & recreation
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 86 | metro-area | #91 of 200 |
| Parks | 103 | ||
| Hiking areas | 15 | ||
| Golf courses | 59 | ||
| Shooting ranges | 9 | ||
| Lakes | 5 |
Permits
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit difficulty (1–5) | 5 | state | #165 of 200 |
| Permit detail | Very difficult; NYC DOB long timelines |
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in New York
Major public and private employers in the New York, NY area.
Salaries by occupation in New York
Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $215,630 |
| Lawyers | $185,790 |
| Human Resources Managers | $181,080 |
| Marketing Managers | $176,530 |
| Construction Managers | $158,380 |
| Dentists | $155,000 |
| Software Developers | $149,090 |
| Physician Assistants | $143,400 |
| General & Operations Managers | $138,630 |
| Pharmacists | $133,680 |
| Data Scientists | $133,560 |
| Registered Nurses | $108,540 |
| Civil Engineers | $104,750 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $104,100 |
| Physical Therapists | $104,010 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $103,960 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $103,900 |
| Dental Hygienists | $99,030 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $97,200 |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $96,130 |
| Web Developers | $82,780 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | $79,190 |
| Electricians | $76,620 |
| Graphic Designers | $75,900 |
| Carpenters | $63,800 |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,200 |
| Welders, Cutters & Solderers | $57,500 |
| Medical Assistants | $46,530 |
Find a job in New York
Cities in the New York area
New York (8,622,467) →Newark (307,355) →Jersey City (287,899) →Yonkers (209,780) →Paterson (157,864) →Elizabeth (135,665) →Toms River (92,827) →Clifton (89,451) →New Rochelle (80,828) →Mount Vernon (72,817) →Bayonne (70,497) →Passaic (70,048) →East Orange (68,879) →Lakewood (68,555) →Union City (67,258) →Brentwood (65,042) →White Plains (59,421) →Hoboken (58,754) →Hempstead (58,557) →New Brunswick (55,718) →Perth Amboy (55,226) →Plainfield (54,358) →West New York (52,438) →Levittown (50,804) →Hackensack (45,758) →Sayreville (45,136) →Freeport (44,210) →Hicksville (44,084) →Linden (43,478) →West Babylon (42,783) →Coram (42,169) →Kearny (41,157) →Valley Stream (40,288) →Fort Lee (39,799) →Elmont (37,866) →East Meadow (36,856) →Central Islip (36,519) →Commack (35,770) →Fair Lawn (34,948) →Long Beach (34,734) →Huntington Station (34,588) →New City (33,837) →Baldwin (33,776) →Uniondale (33,192) →Spring Valley (32,963) →Garfield (32,472) →Franklin Square (31,969) →Long Branch (31,932) →Centereach (31,889) →Oceanside (31,488) →Port Chester (31,288) →Westfield (30,839) →Bay Shore (30,553) →Rahway (29,664) →Englewood (29,109) →Harrison (28,721) →Monsey (28,287) →Bergenfield (28,223) →Glen Cove (28,132) →Old Bridge (28,094) →Deer Park (27,304) →Holbrook (27,220) →West Islip (27,192) →Lindenhurst (27,139) →Ossining (27,076) →Plainview (26,620) →Paramus (26,582) →Shirley (26,498) →Ridgewood (26,043) →Lodi (25,969) →Rockville Centre (25,784) →Smithtown (25,588) →Cliffside Park (25,546) →Peekskill (25,401) →Carteret (25,161) →Medford (24,738) →Dix Hills (24,652) →South Plainfield (24,273) →Somerset (24,246) →Copiague (23,442) →Garden City (22,871) →North Plainfield (22,695) →Summit (22,555) →Roselle (22,500) →Hillsborough (21,865) →Massapequa (21,845) →Parsippany (21,806) →Selden (21,759) →Secaucus (21,470) →East Patchogue (21,449) →Elmwood Park (21,261) →North Bellmore (21,070) →Merrick (21,004) →Mineola (20,940) →Woodbridge (20,927) →Eastchester (20,633) →Nanuet (20,586) →Hauppauge (20,401) →West Hempstead (20,393) →North Amityville (20,336) →Lynbrook (20,299) →East Northport (20,287) →Palisades Park (20,231) →Morristown (20,126) →Mamaroneck (19,930) →Huntington (19,610) →Holtsville (19,597) →East Massapequa (19,508) →Hawthorne (19,456) →Roosevelt (19,233) →Harrison (19,217) →Tinton Falls (19,180) →Point Pleasant (19,024) →North Valley Stream (19,016) →Ronkonkoma (18,838) →Syosset (18,807) →Rutherford (18,754) →Preakness (18,591) →Colonia (18,581) →Melville (18,526) →Iselin (18,511) →Dover (18,426) →North Babylon (18,393) →North Bay Shore (18,392) →Lake Ronkonkoma (18,339) →Ocean Acres (18,229) →North Massapequa (18,198) →Scarsdale (18,061) →Dumont (18,014) →Wantagh (17,995) →Woodmere (17,632) →Islip (17,284) →Bethpage (17,281) →Avenel (17,211) →Massapequa Park (17,045) →Port Washington (17,015) →Hampton Bays (16,939) →Farmingville (16,889) →New Milford (16,888) →Kings Park (16,730) →Madison (16,521) →Rye (16,447) →Pearl River (16,426) →North Arlington (16,352) →Mastic Beach (16,189) →Sayville (16,145) →South River (16,081) →Bellmore (15,937) →Floral Park (15,892) →Seaford (15,853) →Westbury (15,788) →Princeton Meadows (15,585) →Tenafly (15,299) →Asbury Park (15,245) →Greenlawn (15,169) →New Cassel (15,127) →South Farmingdale (15,028) →Highland Park (14,996) →Mastic (14,968) →Metuchen (14,958) →Fairview (14,935) →Ramsey (14,739) →North New Hyde Park (14,652) →Middlesex (14,525) →Short Hills (14,448) →West Freehold (14,448) →Hopatcong (14,411) →Edgewater (14,394) →Riverhead (14,388) →Bradley Gardens (14,345) →Jericho (14,281) →Jefferson Valley-Yorktown (14,072) →Roselle Park (13,964) →St. James (13,733) →Rocky Point (13,716) →Wyandanch (13,601) →New Providence (13,595) →East Islip (13,576) →Nesconset (13,549) →Eatontown (13,522) →Franklin Park (13,425) →Woodland Park (13,291) →Ridgefield Park (13,161) →Ridge (12,987) →Red Bank (12,868) →Salisbury (12,861) →Florham Park (12,790) →Oakland (12,734) →Manorville (12,681) →Fords (12,663) →Robertsville (12,646) →Holiday City-Berkeley (12,639) →Stony Point (12,533) →Stony Brook (12,501) →Freehold (12,498) →Somerville (12,467) →Upper Montclair (12,441) →Martinsville (12,370) →Patchogue (12,343) →Haverstraw (12,286) →North Merrick (12,192) →Babylon (12,185) →Glen Rock (12,086) →Hasbrouck Heights (12,080) →River Edge (12,022) →Bound Brook (11,906) →Miller Place (11,848) →Wallington (11,838) →Tarrytown (11,776) →Guttenberg (11,765) →Ringwood (11,692) →Mount Sinai (11,641) →Ridgefield (11,465) →North Wantagh (11,444) →Dobbs Ferry (11,431) →Suffern (11,376) →Westwood (11,241) →Wanaque (11,217) →Inwood (11,156) →North Lindenhurst (11,155) →Elwood (11,124) →Lake Grove (11,066) →Great Neck (11,060) →Pompton Lakes (11,052) →Franklin Lakes (11,007) →Oak Ridge (10,997) →Totowa (10,975) →Little Ferry (10,954) →Pompton Plains (10,941) →The Hills (10,937) →Beachwood (10,933) →Manville (10,892) →Terryville (10,890) →Lincoln Park (10,884) →Mount Kisco (10,835) →Middle Island (10,731) →West Haverstraw (10,649) →Kendall Park (10,624) →North Bellport (10,530) →Lake Hopatcong (10,480) →Sleepy Hollow (10,396) →Chestnut Ridge (10,339) →Brookdale (10,312) →South Huntington (10,307) →New Hyde Park (10,235) →East Setauket (10,234) →Hillsdale (10,125) →East Rockaway (10,070) →Waldwick (10,068) →Lake Hiawatha (10,064) →Blackwells Mills (10,047) →Maywood (10,040) →East Rutherford (10,020) →Airmont (10,020) →
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