We all know that the Empire State is one of most expensive states in the country, so trust us when we say that the cities on this list are mind-bogglingly pricey.
But where are these extra-expensive cities in New York?
We used Saturday Night Science to narrow our search to only New York cities with a population of at least 5,000, leaving us with 166 cities to rank. We then used data from the American Community Survey to find out where the cost of living is the highest.
It should come as no shock that one of the most expensive cities in America, New York City, is featured on this list. Equally unsurprising is the inclusion of Long Island’s bastions of “old money” on the North Shore, like Manorhaven and Glen Cove. Most places on this list are within spitting distance of NYC.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In New York For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in New York? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Scarsdale is the most expensive place to live in New York.
Jamestown (the cheapest place to live in New York) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about New York and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In New York For 2026
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Population: 18,010
Cost Of Living Index: 280
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $2,157,586
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.6x
More on Scarsdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Scarsdale is 280. The median income in Scarsdale comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $2,157,586 for 2026.
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Population: 7,257
Cost Of Living Index: 270
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,751,159
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.0x
More on East Hills: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in East Hills is 270. The median income in East Hills comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $1,751,159 for 2026.
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Population: 16,428
Cost Of Living Index: 267
Median Income: $239,815
Average Home Price: $2,180,591
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.1x
More on Rye: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Rye is 267. The median income in Rye comes in at $239,815 and the average home value is $2,180,591 for 2026.
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Population: 5,415
Cost Of Living Index: 250
Median Income: $173,315
Average Home Price: $1,472,339
Home Price To Income Ratio: 8.5x
More on North Hills: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in North Hills is 250. The median income in North Hills comes in at $173,315 and the average home value is $1,472,339 for 2026.
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Population: 6,510
Cost Of Living Index: 235
Median Income: $215,815
Average Home Price: $1,450,320
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.7x
More on Bronxville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bronxville is 235. The median income in Bronxville comes in at $215,815 and the average home value is $1,450,320 for 2026.
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Population: 6,567
Cost Of Living Index: 234
Median Income: $167,536
Average Home Price: $1,661,377
Home Price To Income Ratio: 9.9x
More on Larchmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Larchmont is 234. The median income in Larchmont comes in at $167,536 and the average home value is $1,661,377 for 2026.
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Population: 5,694
Cost Of Living Index: 214
Median Income: $26,848
Average Home Price: $1,050,815
Home Price To Income Ratio: 39.1x
More on Kaser: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Kaser is 214. The median income in Kaser comes in at $26,848 and the average home value is $1,050,815 for 2026.
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Population: 22,941
Cost Of Living Index: 206
Median Income: $244,152
Average Home Price: $1,338,517
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.5x
More on Garden City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Garden City is 206. The median income in Garden City comes in at $244,152 and the average home value is $1,338,517 for 2026.
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Population: 6,778
Cost Of Living Index: 205
Median Income: $170,000
Average Home Price: $2,123,230
Home Price To Income Ratio: 12.5x
More on Lawrence: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Lawrence is 205. The median income in Lawrence comes in at $170,000 and the average home value is $2,123,230 for 2026.
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Population: 29,961
Cost Of Living Index: 201
Median Income: $164,250
Average Home Price: $1,211,013
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.4x
More on Harrison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Harrison is 201. The median income in Harrison comes in at $164,250 and the average home value is $1,211,013 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Empire State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in New York are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in New York to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 166 places in New York that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in New York according to the data is Scarsdale. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in New York.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In New York For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in New York that have the highest cost of living, with Scarsdale ranking as the most expensive city in the Empire State.
The most expensive cities in New York are Scarsdale, East Hills, Rye, North Hills, Bronxville, Larchmont, Kaser, Garden City, Lawrence, and Harrison.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in New York according to the data:
- Jamestown
- Hornell
- Salamanca
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Worst Places To Live In New York State
Most Expensive Cities In New York
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scarsdale | 280 | 18,010 | $250,001 | $2,157,586 | 8.6x |
| 2 | East Hills | 270 | 7,257 | $250,001 | $1,751,159 | 7.0x |
| 3 | Rye | 267 | 16,428 | $239,815 | $2,180,591 | 9.1x |
| 4 | North Hills | 250 | 5,415 | $173,315 | $1,472,339 | 8.5x |
| 5 | Bronxville | 235 | 6,510 | $215,815 | $1,450,320 | 6.7x |
| 6 | Larchmont | 234 | 6,567 | $167,536 | $1,661,377 | 9.9x |
| 7 | Kaser | 214 | 5,694 | $26,848 | $1,050,815 | 39.1x |
| 8 | Garden City | 206 | 22,941 | $244,152 | $1,338,517 | 5.5x |
| 9 | Lawrence | 205 | 6,778 | $170,000 | $2,123,230 | 12.5x |
| 10 | Harrison | 201 | 29,961 | $164,250 | $1,211,013 | 7.4x |
| 11 | Pelham Manor | 196 | 5,644 | $250,001 | $1,309,984 | 5.2x |
| 12 | Great Neck | 190 | 11,087 | $137,981 | $1,455,882 | 10.6x |
| 13 | Rye Brook | 188 | 9,900 | $246,944 | $1,236,847 | 5.0x |
| 14 | Wesley Hills | 187 | 6,196 | $209,345 | $1,123,610 | 5.4x |
| 15 | Sea Cliff | 187 | 5,033 | $193,590 | $1,099,756 | 5.7x |
| 16 | New York | 180 | 8,483,844 | $80,483 | $812,861 | 10.1x |
| 17 | Briarcliff Manor | 178 | 7,519 | $229,732 | $1,094,016 | 4.8x |
| 18 | Pleasantville | 178 | 7,371 | $136,406 | $987,581 | 7.2x |
| 19 | Pelham | 175 | 7,305 | $184,375 | $1,360,404 | 7.4x |
| 20 | Dobbs Ferry | 173 | 11,443 | $165,417 | $975,067 | 5.9x |
| 21 | Irvington | 173 | 6,531 | $173,248 | $1,222,447 | 7.1x |
| 22 | Rockville Centre | 172 | 25,765 | $151,938 | $965,149 | 6.4x |
| 23 | Hastings-on-Hudson | 172 | 8,434 | $193,621 | $1,036,676 | 5.4x |
| 24 | Sleepy Hollow | 171 | 10,887 | $104,313 | $1,010,736 | 9.7x |
| 25 | Mamaroneck | 165 | 19,826 | $120,000 | $859,344 | 7.2x |
| 26 | Floral Park | 165 | 16,169 | $150,084 | $858,495 | 5.7x |
| 27 | Northport | 165 | 7,322 | $146,921 | $850,558 | 5.8x |
| 28 | New Hempstead | 165 | 5,472 | $126,165 | $978,444 | 7.8x |
| 29 | Long Beach | 163 | 34,756 | $140,739 | $805,358 | 5.7x |
| 30 | New Hyde Park | 163 | 10,220 | $142,927 | $974,067 | 6.8x |
| 31 | Manorhaven | 163 | 6,958 | $105,486 | $823,278 | 7.8x |
| 32 | Croton-on-Hudson | 162 | 8,202 | $191,678 | $812,905 | 4.2x |
| 33 | Williston Park | 161 | 7,542 | $156,382 | $927,595 | 5.9x |
| 34 | Cedarhurst | 161 | 7,320 | $101,572 | $1,206,384 | 11.9x |
| 35 | New Rochelle | 160 | 82,769 | $109,167 | $917,530 | 8.4x |
| 36 | Bayville | 160 | 6,744 | $149,191 | $841,959 | 5.6x |
| 37 | White Plains | 159 | 60,666 | $110,763 | $770,309 | 7.0x |
| 38 | Massapequa Park | 158 | 16,963 | $171,953 | $792,452 | 4.6x |
| 39 | Airmont | 158 | 10,205 | $94,972 | $963,994 | 10.2x |
| 40 | Port Jefferson | 158 | 8,091 | $144,912 | $756,205 | 5.2x |
| 41 | Glen Cove | 157 | 28,112 | $92,064 | $810,612 | 8.8x |
| 42 | Mineola | 155 | 21,211 | $137,739 | $815,486 | 5.9x |
| 43 | Nyack | 155 | 7,393 | $116,649 | $748,480 | 6.4x |
| 44 | New Square | 154 | 9,803 | $31,443 | $793,683 | 25.2x |
| 45 | Babylon | 153 | 12,185 | $140,820 | $720,475 | 5.1x |
| 46 | Chestnut Ridge | 153 | 10,557 | $111,725 | $862,818 | 7.7x |
| 47 | East Rockaway | 153 | 10,077 | $124,929 | $735,012 | 5.9x |
| 48 | Kiryas Joel | 152 | 38,916 | $50,032 | $909,189 | 18.2x |
| 49 | Westbury | 152 | 15,808 | $145,185 | $768,992 | 5.3x |
| 50 | Tuckahoe | 152 | 6,973 | $104,375 | $815,212 | 7.8x |
| 51 | Lynbrook | 151 | 20,325 | $136,696 | $745,361 | 5.5x |
| 52 | Malverne | 151 | 8,477 | $149,489 | $801,813 | 5.4x |
| 53 | Port Chester | 148 | 31,102 | $92,222 | $725,361 | 7.9x |
| 54 | Elmsford | 147 | 5,186 | $120,179 | $678,626 | 5.6x |
| 55 | Lake Grove | 145 | 11,061 | $118,311 | $713,789 | 6.0x |
| 56 | Yonkers | 142 | 209,978 | $83,549 | $680,217 | 8.1x |
| 57 | Valley Stream | 142 | 40,315 | $133,190 | $756,940 | 5.7x |
| 58 | Mount Kisco | 142 | 10,737 | $96,534 | $688,450 | 7.1x |
| 59 | Farmingdale | 141 | 8,474 | $122,980 | $717,477 | 5.8x |
| 60 | Great Neck Plaza | 140 | 7,593 | $92,474 | $498,568 | 5.4x |
| 61 | Lindenhurst | 139 | 27,142 | $130,128 | $600,909 | 4.6x |
| 62 | Amityville | 139 | 9,588 | $106,285 | $587,036 | 5.5x |
| 63 | Ossining | 137 | 26,950 | $103,573 | $538,108 | 5.2x |
| 64 | Freeport | 135 | 44,088 | $120,625 | $652,866 | 5.4x |
| 65 | Saratoga Springs | 135 | 28,631 | $105,944 | $633,901 | 6.0x |
| 66 | Hempstead | 133 | 58,801 | $90,420 | $627,530 | 6.9x |
| 67 | Woodbury | 133 | 11,334 | $121,221 | $1,478,907 | 12.2x |
| 68 | Monroe | 133 | 9,515 | $109,851 | $530,516 | 4.8x |
| 69 | Mount Vernon | 132 | 72,427 | $78,779 | $568,430 | 7.2x |
| 70 | Patchogue | 132 | 12,396 | $107,306 | $586,012 | 5.5x |
| 71 | Warwick | 129 | 6,585 | $89,609 | $566,346 | 6.3x |
| 72 | Suffern | 128 | 11,441 | $104,607 | $576,039 | 5.5x |
| 73 | Spring Valley | 127 | 33,192 | $57,196 | $871,486 | 15.2x |
| 74 | Goshen | 126 | 5,773 | $104,643 | $558,034 | 5.3x |
| 75 | Peekskill | 124 | 25,625 | $85,954 | $500,839 | 5.8x |
| 76 | New Paltz | 124 | 8,314 | $52,774 | $496,651 | 9.4x |
| 77 | Beacon | 122 | 14,834 | $107,859 | $538,601 | 5.0x |
| 78 | West Haverstraw | 122 | 10,711 | $86,301 | $425,896 | 4.9x |
| 79 | Haverstraw | 119 | 12,325 | $75,167 | $444,472 | 5.9x |
| 80 | Colonie | 118 | 7,702 | $103,983 | $341,964 | 3.3x |
| 81 | Washingtonville | 118 | 5,707 | $95,313 | $516,964 | 5.4x |
| 82 | Walden | 117 | 6,868 | $87,487 | $412,020 | 4.7x |
| 83 | Wappingers Falls | 116 | 5,761 | $65,040 | $486,032 | 7.5x |
| 84 | Ithaca | 115 | 32,814 | $48,784 | $410,620 | 8.4x |
| 85 | Ballston Spa | 115 | 5,027 | $101,667 | $422,526 | 4.2x |
| 86 | East Aurora | 114 | 5,993 | $103,949 | $431,046 | 4.1x |
| 87 | Poughkeepsie | 113 | 31,958 | $60,741 | $339,927 | 5.6x |
| 88 | Williamsville | 113 | 5,469 | $98,850 | $410,876 | 4.2x |
| 89 | Middletown | 111 | 30,289 | $79,346 | $402,620 | 5.1x |
| 90 | Hudson | 111 | 5,865 | $54,139 | $436,089 | 8.1x |
| 91 | Fairport | 111 | 5,403 | $107,009 | $396,820 | 3.7x |
| 92 | Albany | 110 | 100,492 | $61,986 | $320,505 | 5.2x |
| 93 | Kingston | 107 | 23,911 | $68,186 | $378,029 | 5.5x |
| 94 | Webster | 107 | 5,718 | $70,495 | $386,505 | 5.5x |
| 95 | Geneseo | 106 | 7,701 | $46,589 | $271,031 | 5.8x |
| 96 | Hilton | 106 | 5,968 | $87,377 | $300,280 | 3.4x |
| 97 | Kenmore | 105 | 15,044 | $77,639 | $249,943 | 3.2x |
| 98 | Troy | 104 | 51,033 | $58,477 | $286,798 | 4.9x |
| 99 | Newburgh | 104 | 28,519 | $56,960 | $392,141 | 6.9x |
| 100 | Cohoes | 104 | 18,159 | $61,145 | $330,325 | 5.4x |