What is the cost of living in Elmira, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elmira has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Elmira has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Elmira ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Elmira ranks as the #330 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Elmira, check out:
Elmira Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elmira. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elmira is 106.
The Groceries index in Elmira is 108.
The Health index in Elmira is 50.
The Housing index in Elmira is 110.
The Transportation index in Elmira is 112.
The Utilities index in Elmira is 106.
| Living Expense | Elmira | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 50 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 111 | 100 |
Elmira Cost Of Living Compared To New York Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Elmira Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Elmira, NY Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Elmira is $122,491.
The Median Rent in Elmira is $909.
The Median Income in Elmira is $43,120.
The Home Value To Income in Elmira is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elmira is 0.25x.
Elmira, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Elmira Services costs vs. New York
Detailed Elmira Groceries costs vs. New York
Detailed Elmira Health costs vs. New York
Detailed Elmira Transportation costs vs. New York
Elmira SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elmira
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elmira. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Corning, NY has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Elmira.
Southport, NY has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Elmira.
Horseheads, NY has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Elmira.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elmira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning, NY | 10,643 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Southport, NY | 6,450 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Horseheads, NY | 6,449 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Big Flats, NY | 5,651 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Sayre, PA | 5,431 | 99 | 1.1x |
