USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in New York

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 107.9 7.9% more expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 5th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 122.2 8th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $64,153 11th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in New York are 7.9% above the national average, the 5th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Utilities stand out in New York: household electricity, gas, water and sewer prices are 34.4% above the US average.
  • Within New York, metro price levels run from 87.7 in Watertown, NY to 112.6 in New York, NY (US = 100).
  • Compared with the rest of the country, New York has become less expensive since 2019: the index went from 109.4 to 107.9, and its rank from 4th to 5th most expensive. Housing in New York moved most, from 129.3 to 122.2.
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $64,153 in 2017 dollars, 11th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • In New York, housing (22.2% above average) and everyday costs (goods 7.3% above average, other services 4.1% above average) are both above the US level, so the gap is broad rather than just rent.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In New York, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 34.4% above

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
107.9
Goods
107.3
Housing (rents)
122.2
Utilities
134.4
Other services
104.1

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
All items107.9
Goods107.3
Housing (rents)122.2
Utilities134.4
Other services104.1

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.31 a gallon in New York (statewide average) in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.03 more than the US average of $4.28. official

Gas prices in New York · Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in New York

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 13 metro areas BEA measures in New York are Watertown, NY (87.7), Utica, NY (92.7) and Binghamton, NY (92.9); the most expensive is New York, NY (112.6). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Watertown, NY is the cheapest metro area in New York (87.7); New York, NY the most expensive (112.6)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Watertown, NY
87.7
Utica, NY
92.7
Binghamton, NY
92.9
Elmira, NY
94.4
Glens Falls, NY
94.9
Syracuse, NY
95.7
Buffalo, NY
95.8
Rochester, NY
97.0
Albany, NY
99.6
Kingston, NY
100.7
Ithaca, NY
103.3
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY
109.4
New York, NY Spans NY, NJ
112.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Watertown, NY87.7
Utica, NY92.7
Binghamton, NY92.9
Elmira, NY94.4
Glens Falls, NY94.9
Syracuse, NY95.7
Buffalo, NY95.8
Rochester, NY97.0
Albany, NY99.6
Kingston, NY100.7
Ithaca, NY103.3
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY109.4
New York, NY112.6
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Watertown, NY 87.7 53.2 99.7 132.2 97.8 $1,496
Utica, NY 92.7 66.1 99.7 131.9 97.8 $1,424
Binghamton, NY 92.9 69.7 99.7 131.6 97.8 $1,610
Elmira, NY 94.4 76.4 99.7 131.6 97.8 $1,143
Glens Falls, NY 94.9 76.2 99.7 133.8 97.8 $1,444
Syracuse, NY 95.7 80.7 99.7 133.4 97.8 $1,627
Buffalo, NY 95.8 81.0 99.7 129.5 97.8 $1,451
Rochester, NY 97.0 87.5 99.7 133.2 97.8 $1,532
Albany, NY 99.6 102.6 99.7 134.0 97.8 $1,693
Kingston, NY 100.7 110.2 99.7 133.6 97.8 $2,015
Ithaca, NY 103.3 128.4 99.7 131.6 97.8 $1,987
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY 109.4 115.8 110.3 136.8 106.5 $2,259
New York, NY 112.6 148.6 110.3 127.0 105.8 $3,546

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

New York has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 111.4 then, 107.9 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
2008111.4
2009111.0
2010109.7
2011110.8
2012109.6
2013109.7
2014108.9
2015109.6
2016110.1
2017110.0
2018109.5
2019109.4
2020110.1
2021109.6
2022107.6
2023107.8
2024107.9

Goods: 112.1 in 2008, 107.3 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
2008112.1
2009109.5
2010108.2
2011107.9
2012108.6
2013107.4
2014107.7
2015108.1
2016108.0
2017108.3
2018106.8
2019105.1
2020105.7
2021101.7
2022104.4
2023105.1
2024107.3

Housing (rents): 130.9 in 2008, 122.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
2008130.9
2009133.0
2010135.2
2011137.1
2012136.2
2013136.0
2014135.8
2015134.3
2016133.7
2017131.0
2018130.0
2019129.3
2020132.3
2021131.5
2022124.7
2023122.0
2024122.2

Utilities: 147.6 in 2008, 134.4 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
2008147.6
2009145.8
2010140.7
2011138.3
2012131.7
2013133.8
2014130.4
2015123.2
2016124.5
2017128.6
2018135.4
2019133.7
2020138.7
2021137.9
2022129.7
2023135.4
2024134.4

Other services: 104.9 in 2008, 104.1 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
New York
2008104.9
2009105.0
2010103.4
2011105.3
2012103.3
2013104.1
2014102.7
2015104.4
2016105.4
2017105.6
2018105.5
2019106.4
2020105.9
2021107.9
2022104.3
2023104.9
2024104.1

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in New York is $64,153, 11th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • New York
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
New YorkUnited States
2008$48,288$45,816
2009$47,614$44,204
2010$48,971$44,808
2011$49,428$45,957
2012$50,848$46,796
2013$50,375$46,358
2014$51,614$47,661
2015$53,180$49,396
2016$54,091$49,828
2017$56,690$51,006
2018$57,594$52,242
2019$58,786$53,683
2020$61,253$56,514
2021$64,085$59,365
2022$62,106$57,104
2023$63,093$58,088
2024$64,153$59,195

Compare New York with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

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Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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