F
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
66%
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 Suffern New York National
Cost of living124117100
Goods & Services107108100
Groceries102102100
Health care96103100
Housing166145100
Transportation108105100
Utilities111100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Suffern, NY

The cost of living in Suffern affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Suffern is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Suffern may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Suffern falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Suffern 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 66.3% 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 Suffern Affordable?

Wondering if Suffern 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 Suffern, for example, the median home price is 67% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 64.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Suffern boasting a median household income of $86,383, which is 56.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Suffern?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Suffern, the utilities index registers 10.7% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Suffern, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Suffern, 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 Suffern is 6% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Suffern is 24% higher than the national average
  • Suffern housing is 66% 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 Suffern

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Compare Suffern, NY Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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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$100,839$8,403$2,353$3,025
      Renters$58,819$4,902$1,372$1,765
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Suffern, NY, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Suffern have a median income of $100,839. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,353 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $58,819, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,372.

      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 Suffern National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.62$24.265.6%
      Beauty Salon $41.67$45.568.6%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.6%
      Movie $15.78$12.1330.1%
      Bowling $21.00$18.0016.7%

      Groceries

      Item Suffern National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.65$5.843.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.71$4.670.7%
      Potatoes $5.37$4.938.8%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $11.33$10.418.8%

      Health Care

      Item Suffern National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.11$125.6825.0%
      Doctor $115.59$135.7814.9%
      Dentist $124.27$113.299.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.15$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $451.73$468.603.6%

      Housing

      Item Suffern National avg. Difference
      Home Price $308,500.00$184,700.0067.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,568.94$2,346.6952.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,563.00$949.0064.7%

      Transportation

      Item Suffern National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.41$3.461.4%
      Tire Balancing $82.67$59.9238.0%

      Utilities

      Item Suffern National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $236.04$193.9921.7%
      Phone $186.61$192.252.9%
      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.
      Greenwood Lake, NY3,0801109.8%
      Paterson, NJ145,48411515.3%
      Mount Ivy, NY7,39012221.6%
      Haverstraw, NY12,07612322.7%
      Harriman, NY2,99612322.8%
      Suffern, NY10,94512424.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mount Kisco, NY10,94914140.7%
      Raymondville, TX10,9507227.9%
      Placerville, CA10,95413130.5%
      DeRidder, LA10,955909.7%
      Gonzales, LA10,932982.2%
      Suffern, NY10,94512424.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.