D-
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
46%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Niskayuna New York National
Cost of living116117100
Goods & Services106108100
Groceries103102100
Health care93103100
Housing146145100
Transportation97105100
Utilities102100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Niskayuna, NY

Knowing the cost of living in Niskayuna allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Niskayuna stands at 116, marking it 16% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Niskayuna 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 45.6% 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 Niskayuna Affordable?

Is Niskayuna affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Niskayuna, for instance, where the median home price falls 50.5% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 34.1% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Niskayuna flaunting a median household income of $110,746, 100.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Niskayuna?

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 Niskayuna, the transportation index is 2.9% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Niskayuna starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 4%.

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Niskayuna, the housing index stands at 45.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Niskayuna 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Niskayuna Area
Search Homes for Sale in Niskayuna, NY

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Niskayuna is 1% lower than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Niskayuna is 16% higher than the national average
  • Niskayuna housing is 46% 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 Niskayuna

See all the best places to live around Niskayuna

Compare Niskayuna, NY Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Niskayuna?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Niskayuna?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Niskayuna poll results

      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$120,483$10,040$2,811$3,615
      Renters$59,972$4,998$1,399$1,799
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Niskayuna, 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 Niskayuna homeowners, is $120,483. This would allow for a maximum of $2,811 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $59,972 which would result in a maximum of $1,399 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 Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.28$24.2616.6%
      Beauty Salon $51.36$45.5612.7%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.28$1.280.3%
      Movie $13.08$12.137.8%
      Bowling $15.96$18.0011.3%

      Groceries

      Item Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.06$5.843.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.60$1.571.5%
      Milk $4.85$4.673.9%
      Potatoes $5.09$4.933.2%
      Pizza $14.69$12.0921.5%
      Beer $10.90$10.414.7%

      Health Care

      Item Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $132.47$125.685.4%
      Doctor $111.33$135.7818.0%
      Dentist $111.69$113.291.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.90$10.652.3%
      Lipitor $436.57$468.606.8%

      Housing

      Item Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      Home Price $278,000.00$184,700.0050.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,531.65$2,346.697.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,273.00$949.0034.1%

      Transportation

      Item Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.55$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $50.33$59.9216.0%

      Utilities

      Item Niskayuna National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $196.70$193.991.4%
      Phone $195.71$192.251.8%
      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.
      Amsterdam, NY17,8238910.5%
      Schenectady, NY65,336946.5%
      Green Island, NY2,647954.7%
      Hagaman, NY1,452954.6%
      Mechanicville, NY5,077972.9%
      Niskayuna, NY19,74111615.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      West Mifflin, PA19,7428812.1%
      Shafter, CA19,74311211.5%
      Sherwood, OR19,74514039.8%
      Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC19,745n/a 
      Blythe, CA19,747964.3%
      Niskayuna, NY19,74111615.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.