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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: New York isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Yonkers proves it with a cost index of 133, the lowest in New York, and we've ranked all 5 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
207,657 residents · New York
A closer look at Yonkers: the cost index of 133 breaks down to a Utilities index of 122 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 183 (weakest). Median rent is $2,643/month — 39% above the national median — while household income sits at $81,816, meaning locals spend about 39% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
274,678 residents · New York
Buffalo earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 93 cost index sits 19 points below the national baseline, and the $48,050 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $232,351 — $235,019 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 82, while Healthcare trails at 96.
8,258,035 residents · New York
A closer look at New York City: the cost index of 156 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Utilities index of 144 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 241 (weakest). Median rent is $3,706/month — 96% above the national median — while household income sits at $79,713, meaning locals spend about 56% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
207,274 residents · New York
Here's Rochester by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 93. Rent: $1,434/month — we had to double-check this one — . Income: $46,628/year. Home price: $228,693. Population: 207,274. The strongest category is Housing at 84; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,532 per year vs. the national median. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
145,560 residents · New York
A closer look at Syracuse: the cost index of 95 breaks down to a Utilities index of 87 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). Median rent is $1,601/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $45,845, meaning locals spend about 42% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
#1 Ranked: Yonkers — cost index 133, rent $2,643/mo, income $81,816
Yonkers is a clear outlier at index 133
3 of 5 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Let's be honest: New York isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Yonkers proves it with a cost index of 133, the lowest in New York, and we've ranked all 5 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
At $2,643/month for rent and a cost index of 133, Yonkers is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $81,816. Pretty standard for this type of city.
Bottom line: Yonkers leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
#1-ranked Yonkers has a cost index 19 points higher than the top-5 average of 114. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
Rent ranges from $2,643/mo in Yonkers to $1,601/mo in Syracuse — a monthly difference of $1,042, or $12,504 per year.
Rent in #1-ranked Yonkers has increased from $2,497 to $2,643/mo over the past 12 months — a 6% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Value ratio = median household income ÷ cost of living index. A higher ratio means each dollar of income buys more locally. This captures purchasing power better than looking at income or cost alone. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Yonkers ranks #1 in New York for this analysis with a cost index of 133 and median income of $81,816.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Yonkers (ranked #1) has a cost index of 133 and rent of $2,643/mo, while Syracuse (ranked #5) has a cost index of 95 and rent of $1,601/mo — a 38-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Yonkers is $2,643/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $748 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Yonkers is $673,384, which is 8.2× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
New York has a 10.9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.53%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.33%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.