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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The gap is staggering: 63 points separate #1 New York City (index 156) from #5 Rochester (index 93) within New York. Pretty standard for this type of city. That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 68% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 5 cities, ranke…
The gap is staggering: 63 points separate #1 New York City (index 156) from #5 Rochester (index 93) within New York. Pretty standard for this type of city. That spread means your housing, groceries, and daily expenses can cost 68% more depending on which city you choose. Here are all 5 cities, ranked with 2026 data (that's pre-tax, of course).
What does daily life actually cost in New York City? Start with the 56% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 144) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 241) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $79,713 and homes at $812,534 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#1 Ranked: New York City — cost index 156, rent $3,706/mo, income $79,713
$2,272/mo rent gap across the ranking
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
8,258,035 residents · New York
Look, Dive into New York City's numbers: cost index 156 (44 points above national average), rent $3,706/month, income $79,713, and a home price of $812,534. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 144, while Housing runs 241. As a major city with 8,258,035 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
274,678 residents · New York
Why Buffalo ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 93 on the cost index, residents save roughly 19% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,381/month — make of that what you will — while the median household pulls in $48,050/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 82, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $232,351 — $235,019 below the national median.
207,657 residents · New York
Why Yonkers ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 133 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 21% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,643/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $81,816/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 122, though Housing (183) lags behind. Home prices average $673,384 — $206,014 above the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
145,560 residents · New York
The #4 spot goes to Syracuse, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,601/month — we had to double-check this one — — saving renters $3,528 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 87, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 98. The 42% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
207,274 residents · New York
Why Rochester ranks #5: the numbers tell a clear story. And broadly, at 93 on the cost index, residents save roughly 19% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,434/month — we had to double-check this one — while the median household pulls in $46,628/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 84, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $228,693 — $238,677 below the national median.
Rent ranges from $3,706/mo in New York City to $1,434/mo in Rochester — a monthly difference of $2,272, or $27,264 per year.
#1-ranked New York City has a cost index 42 points higher than the top-5 average of 114. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
Rent in #1-ranked New York City has increased from $3,558 to $3,706/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
New York City (index 156) and Rochester (index 93) sit 63 points apart on the cost index — proof that New York is far from monolithic in affordability.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1New York City | 10.9% | 8.53% | 1.33% | $52,336 |
2Buffalo | 10.9% | 8.53% | 1.33% | $52,336 |
3Yonkers | 10.9% | 8.53% | 1.33% | $52,336 |
4Syracuse | 10.9% | 8.53% | 1.33% | $52,336 |
5Rochester | 10.9% | 8.53% | 1.33% | $52,336 |
New York City ranks #1 in New York for this analysis with a cost index of 156 and median income of $79,713.
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.
New York City (ranked #1) has a cost index of 156 and rent of $3,706/mo, while Rochester (ranked #5) has a cost index of 93 and rent of $1,434/mo — a 63-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 New York City is $3,706/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,811 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in New York City is $812,534, which is 10.2× 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.