Cost of living is the amount of money necessary for an individual to afford basic expenses in a particular location and time period. This includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous expenses.
Information about the cost of living in a specific place, such as the Staten Island cost of living, can help to compare the affordability of living in this location compared to a person’s current place of residence.
This can help you determine if your plans of moving would be beneficial for you and your family given your projected income.
Overview of Staten Island
A cost-of-living index is particularly helpful if you are considering moving to Staten Island, NY, and you want to see if living in this borough would be affordable for you given your projected income.
This index is based on a national average of 100. So, for example, if the COL index of housing in a given area is 185.2, then it is 85.2% higher than the national average.
Below is a table showing the cost of living in Staten Island to give you an idea of how expensive or affordable this location is relative to New York and to the rest of the country.
| Cost of Living | Staten Island | New York City | New York State | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 158.4 | 172.5 | 121.5 | 100 |
| Grocery | 115 | 116.6 | 103.8 | 100 |
| Health | 128.3 | 101.0 | 120.7 | 100 |
| Housing | 185.2 | 224.3 | 127.9 | 100 |
| Utilities | 153.4 | 150.5 | 115.9 | 100 |
| Transportation | 183.1 | 114.0 | 140.7 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 143.9 | 136.4 | 121.8 | 100 |
Housing Costs
The median sale price for a one- to three-family home on Staten Island was $755,000 over the 12 months to August 2026 (NYC Department of Finance, 3,136 sales). Prices by ZIP code are on the Staten Island ZIP code map, and current listings are under Staten Island real estate.
Renters make up 29.0% of the Staten Island population. Only 1.9% of homes and apartments in this location are available to rent.
The average rent in Staten Island is 62.9% more than the national average of $1,430 and 15.9% more than the state average of $1,960. Renting a two-bedroom unit in this borough costs $2,330 per month.
| Monthly Rent in Staten Island | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom Apartment in City Center | $1,800.00 |
| 1-bedroom Apartment Outside of Center | $1,500.00 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment in City Center | $3,250.00 |
| 3-bedroom Apartment Outside of Center | $2,650.00 |
Utilities and Energy Expenses
In Staten Island, New York, the average monthly cost of utilities ranges between $90 to $278.18. This includes the cost of electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage.
The average electric rate in this area is 37 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The peak usage hours for electricity in New York City are between 8 AM and midnight when electricity is more expensive.
| Utilities in Staten Island | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $178.29 |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | $69.21 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $66.07 |
Transportation Costs
The average commute time in Staten Island is 55 minutes. 61.8% of commuters drive to work, 25.8% use public transportation, 3.8% walk to work, and 0.4% ride a bike.
| Transportation in Staten Island | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Local Transport One-way Ticket | $2.90 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | $2.17 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $20.00 |
| Gas / Petroleum (1 liter / 0.26 gallon) | $0.94 |
Food and Grocery Expenses
Food and groceries in Staten Island are 15% more expensive than the national average. The list below shows the average costs of dining out and common food items included in grocery shopping.
| Food Expenses | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $22.00 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 People at a Mid-Range Restaurant | $120.00 |
| Combo Meal at a Fast-Food Restaurant | $12.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5-liter draught) | $8.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $8.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | $5.88 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle) | $2.37 |
| Water (0.33-liter bottle) | $2.00 |
| Grocery Items | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 liter) | $1.57 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $4.59 |
| Eggs (regular, 12) | $5.29 |
| Rice (white, 1kg) | $8.10 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | $17.94 |
| Beef Round Back Leg Red Meat (1kg) | $20.92 |
| Apples (1kg) | $6.61 |
| Banana (1kg) | $2.45 |
| Oranges (1kg) | $6.39 |
| Tomato (1kg) | $6.24 |
| Potato (1kg) | $4.08 |
| Onion (1kg) | $3.89 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $3.00 |
| Water (1.5-liter bottle) | $2.50 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $16.50 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5-liter bottle) | $1.73 |
| Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $3.68 |
Healthcare Costs
The healthcare in Staten Island is served by excellent local hospitals and medical facilities.
Staten Island University Hospital is the largest hospital in the area, providing advanced care for adults and children. Richmond University Medical Center is another major hospital in the borough that specializes in emergency care and trauma.
Additionally, there are smaller medical clinics that provide primary care services to residents. Furthermore, the NYC Department of Health offers free or low-cost preventative health services, including immunizations and screenings to ensure residents receive quality preventive care.
Education and Childcare
Staten Island sits entirely within Community School District 31, and public school places are decided by home address rather than by neighbourhood. The Department of Education updates its zoning list every July, so the only reliable answer for any given house is the one you look up for that address.
We do not rate or rank schools. How the zoning works, and where the official city and state data lives, is set out on our school zoning page. Childcare and private tuition costs are listed below.
| Education and Childcare | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | $2,000.00 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | $16,000.00 |
Entertainment and Leisure
The average monthly cost of entertainment and leisure in Staten Island is between $200 and $500. Some examples of entertainment costs include the following:
| Miscellaneous Expenses | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $116.67 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $20.00 |
| Theater Tickets: 2 Tickets for the Best Available Seats | $318 |
Taxes in Staten Island
The median property tax rate in Staten Island, NY, is 0.85%, lower than the national median of 0.99% and the New York state median of 2.39%. However, the typical annual property tax bill in Staten Island reaches $5,884, surpassing the national median of $2,690.
Property taxes in Staten Island are calculated based on the tax-assessed value. This often falls below the market value due to various exemptions, such as the primary residence and agricultural exemptions.
Conclusion
While Staten Island’s cost of living is 59% higher than that of the national average, the borough is still more affordable compared to other parts of New York City.
If those numbers work for you, the next question is what a purchase here involves. Buying a home on Staten Island covers the steps, the closing costs and the flood zones.
If you’d like to know more about Staten Island, specifically its real estate offerings, please contact us today:
- Simon Umanoff
- 718-873-6144
- [email protected]
- Frank Bergen
- 347-567-7153
- [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Staten Island the most affordable NYC borough?
No, the Bronx is the most affordable borough in New York City. However, Staten Island is still cheaper compared to other parts of the city.
What is the average rent in Staten Island?
The average rent of a two-bedroom unit in Staten Island is $2,330 per month.
Is transportation expensive in Staten Island?
Yes, transportation costs in this borough are 83.1% higher than the national average.
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