Kingston, NY vs Ithaca, NY: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Ithaca, NY is 2.6% more expensive than Kingston, NY (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Kingston works out to about $76,900 in Ithaca, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 16.5% more in Ithaca. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,987 a month in Ithaca and $2,015 in Kingston, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $350,000 in Ithaca and $452,000 in Kingston.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 16.5% higher in Ithaca than in Kingston
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.7 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 110.2 | 128.4 |
| Utilities | 133.6 | 131.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Category | Kingston | Ithaca | Ithaca vs Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.7 | 103.3 | +2.6% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 99.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 110.2 | 128.4 | +16.5% |
| Utilities | 133.6 | 131.6 | −1.5% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,015 | $1,987 | −1.4% |
| Typical home value | $452,000 | $350,000 | −22.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Kingston | $75,000 | $76,900 | +2.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Kingston and Ithaca has narrowed since 2008: 7.0 points then, 2.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.1 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 102.6 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2012 | 102.0 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 103.5 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 102.3 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 102.4 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 101.2 | 102.0 |
| 2017 | 102.9 | 104.9 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 101.6 |
| 2019 | 101.6 | 103.7 |
| 2020 | 101.6 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 99.9 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 99.3 | 98.7 |
| 2023 | 99.6 | 99.5 |
| 2024 | 100.7 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2021 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 139.0 | 90.6 |
| 2009 | 115.3 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 115.9 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 111.2 | 111.3 |
| 2012 | 118.2 | 116.5 |
| 2013 | 119.4 | 95.4 |
| 2014 | 125.7 | 109.2 |
| 2015 | 109.6 | 119.3 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 108.2 |
| 2017 | 109.7 | 124.5 |
| 2018 | 107.9 | 112.4 |
| 2019 | 117.7 | 136.0 |
| 2020 | 112.3 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | 107.3 | 124.6 |
| 2022 | 110.8 | 106.4 |
| 2023 | 101.4 | 101.3 |
| 2024 | 110.2 | 128.4 |
Utilities
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 146.2 | 140.2 |
| 2009 | 142.9 | 140.1 |
| 2010 | 142.3 | 135.8 |
| 2011 | 140.3 | 134.4 |
| 2012 | 133.3 | 130.2 |
| 2013 | 137.0 | 131.9 |
| 2014 | 136.7 | 132.7 |
| 2015 | 128.9 | 124.2 |
| 2016 | 125.8 | 122.5 |
| 2017 | 128.1 | 125.6 |
| 2018 | 134.4 | 131.8 |
| 2019 | 131.9 | 131.6 |
| 2020 | 133.0 | 132.1 |
| 2021 | 132.5 | 134.2 |
| 2022 | 132.0 | 132.1 |
| 2023 | 131.6 | 130.8 |
| 2024 | 133.6 | 131.6 |
Other services
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 102.7 | 102.7 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2024 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,987 in Ithaca vs $2,015 in Kingston
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,049 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,011 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $993 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,078 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,159 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,125 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,123 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,084 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,211 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,231 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,142 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,222 | $1,309 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,239 | $1,327 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,238 | $1,411 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,248 | $1,358 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,297 | $1,392 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,328 | $1,343 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,416 | $1,445 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,493 | $1,436 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,469 | $1,377 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,581 | $1,445 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,626 | $1,456 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,658 | $1,579 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,729 | $1,647 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,768 | $1,723 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,741 | $1,595 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,721 | $1,704 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,762 | $1,742 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,794 | $1,761 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,780 | $1,763 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,760 | $1,774 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,823 | $1,806 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,852 | $1,815 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,883 | $1,863 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,858 | $1,874 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,872 | $1,868 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,917 | $1,899 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,930 | $1,914 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,914 | $1,883 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,949 | $1,971 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,015 | $1,917 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,015 | $1,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $350,000 in Ithaca vs $452,000 in Kingston
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Kingston, NY
- Ithaca, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kingston, NY | Ithaca, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $198K | $196K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $199K | $197K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $201K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $204K | $204K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $203K | $204K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $204K | $204K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $207K | $206K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $208K | $210K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $210K | $212K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $213K | $215K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $217K | $217K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $221K | $219K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $223K | $220K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $227K | $221K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $234K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $235K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $235K | $223K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $237K | $221K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $242K | $222K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $245K | $225K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $249K | $228K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $252K | $229K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $261K | $233K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $285K | $243K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $307K | $247K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $327K | $256K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $336K | $264K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $339K | $270K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $356K | $279K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $377K | $293K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $379K | $298K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $377K | $295K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $379K | $295K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $384K | $303K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $396K | $312K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $402K | $316K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $408K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $420K | $326K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $428K | $331K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $432K | $334K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $431K | $336K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $433K | $336K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $436K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $439K | $342K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $441K | $345K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $447K | $350K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $452K | $350K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.