F
37%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
94%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Lake Ronkonkoma New York National
Cost of living137117100
Goods & Services113108100
Groceries105102100
Health care110103100
Housing194145100
Transportation102105100
Utilities131100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma is 137, which is 37% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Lake Ronkonkoma may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Lake Ronkonkoma falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 94.1% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Lake Ronkonkoma, these items will cost you 12.9% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

Is Lake Ronkonkoma Affordable?

Wondering if Lake Ronkonkoma is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Lake Ronkonkoma, for example, the median home price is 100.2% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 79.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lake Ronkonkoma boasting a median household income of $91,529, which is 65.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lake Ronkonkoma?

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Lake Ronkonkoma, the groceries index is 5.4% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Lake Ronkonkoma, healthcare costs are 9.9% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Lake Ronkonkoma comes in at 31.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma is 17% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Lake Ronkonkoma is 37% higher than the national average
  • Lake Ronkonkoma housing is 94% higher than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Lake Ronkonkoma

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Compare Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$111,910$9,326$2,611$3,358
      Renters$60,350$5,029$1,408$1,811
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Lake Ronkonkoma homeowners, is $111,910. This would allow for a maximum of $2,611 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $60,350 which would result in a maximum of $1,408 to be spent on rental costs.

      New York Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New York 4% 8.875%

      New York Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New York 4% 10.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.33$24.2633.3%
      Beauty Salon $48.56$45.566.6%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.4%
      Movie $13.76$12.1313.4%
      Bowling $19.63$18.009.0%

      Groceries

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.34$5.848.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.4%
      Milk $4.73$4.671.2%
      Potatoes $5.03$4.931.9%
      Pizza $10.07$12.0916.7%
      Beer $10.62$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $140.10$125.6811.5%
      Doctor $143.23$135.785.5%
      Dentist $123.00$113.298.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.00$10.653.3%
      Lipitor $401.34$468.6014.4%

      Housing

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      Home Price $369,800.00$184,700.00100.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,857.27$2,346.6920.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,705.00$949.0079.7%

      Transportation

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.7%
      Tire Balancing $57.68$59.923.7%

      Utilities

      Item Lake Ronkonkoma National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $281.67$193.9945.2%
      Phone $185.16$192.253.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ocean Beach, NY3111212.4%
      Stony Brook University, NY8,57411212.4%
      Saltaire, NY2511212.4%
      Mastic Beach, NY15,61012120.8%
      Middle Island, NY11,03012424.2%
      Lake Ronkonkoma, NY18,55513736.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Brownwood, TX18,5548515.2%
      Winthrop Town, MA18,55815150.9%
      East Massapequa, NY18,56415151.1%
      Central Saanich, BC18,572n/a 
      Rancho Mirage, CA18,53715150.8%
      Lake Ronkonkoma, NY18,55513736.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.