F
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
58%
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 Middle Island New York National
Cost of living124117100
Goods & Services108108100
Groceries99102100
Health care113103100
Housing158145100
Transportation103105100
Utilities133100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Middle Island, NY

Understanding the cost of living in Middle Island can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Middle Island cost of living index is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Middle Island 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, Middle Island falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Middle Island cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 58.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Middle Island Affordable?

Wondering if Middle Island 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 Middle Island, for example, the median home price is 48.7% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 81% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Middle Island boasting a median household income of $75,545, which is 36.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Middle Island?

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Middle Island, the transportation index is 3.2% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Middle Island, the groceries index is 1% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Middle Island cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Middle Island is 6% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Middle Island is 24% higher than the national average
  • Middle Island housing is 58% 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 Middle Island

See all the best places to live around Middle Island

Compare Middle Island, NY Cost of Living

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      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$95,559$7,963$2,230$2,867
      Renters$40,729$3,394$950$1,222
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Middle Island is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Middle Island has a median income of about $95,559 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,230 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $40,729. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $950 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Middle Island National avg. Difference
      Haircut $39.78$24.2664.0%
      Beauty Salon $69.00$45.5651.4%
      Toothpaste $3.86$3.704.2%
      Shampoo $1.47$1.2814.8%
      Movie $15.07$12.1324.2%
      Bowling $24.00$18.0033.3%

      Groceries

      Item Middle Island National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.28$5.847.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.59$1.571.4%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.3%
      Potatoes $5.03$4.932.0%
      Pizza $13.21$12.099.3%
      Beer $10.53$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item Middle Island National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $134.70$125.687.2%
      Doctor $162.26$135.7819.5%
      Dentist $136.03$113.2920.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.26$10.655.7%
      Lipitor $375.63$468.6019.8%

      Housing

      Item Middle Island National avg. Difference
      Home Price $274,700.00$184,700.0048.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,730.18$2,346.6959.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,718.00$949.0081.0%

      Transportation

      Item Middle Island National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.47$3.460.2%
      Tire Balancing $63.33$59.925.7%

      Utilities

      Item Middle Island National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $296.64$193.9952.9%
      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.
      Stony Brook University, NY8,57411212.4%
      Riverside village, NY611946.1%
      Calverton, NY5,28011818.2%
      Mastic Beach, NY15,61012120.8%
      Mastic, NY15,06812525.2%
      Middle Island, NY11,03012424.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ontario, OR11,031927.6%
      Spencer, IA11,0388613.7%
      Doctor Phillips, FL11,02013130.7%
      New Baltimore, VA11,01715251.5%
      Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, QC11,017n/a 
      Middle Island, NY11,03012424.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.