What is the cost of living in Ithaca, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ithaca has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Ithaca has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Ithaca ranks as #103 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Ithaca ranks as the #233 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Ithaca, check out:
Ithaca Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ithaca. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ithaca is 104.
The Groceries index in Ithaca is 109.
The Health index in Ithaca is 140.
The Housing index in Ithaca is 111.
The Transportation index in Ithaca is 113.
The Utilities index in Ithaca is 108.
| Living Expense | Ithaca | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 140 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 111 | 100 |
Ithaca 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 Ithaca Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ithaca, 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 Ithaca is $410,620.
The Median Rent in Ithaca is $1,447.
The Median Income in Ithaca is $48,784.
The Home Value To Income in Ithaca is 8.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ithaca is 0.36x.
Ithaca, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Ithaca Services costs vs. New York
Detailed Ithaca Groceries costs vs. New York
Detailed Ithaca Health costs vs. New York
Detailed Ithaca Transportation costs vs. New York
Ithaca SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ithaca
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ithaca. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Endwell, NY has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Ithaca.
Fairmount, NY has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Ithaca.
Baldwinsville, NY has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Ithaca.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ithaca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endwell, NY | 11,546 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Fairmount, NY | 9,724 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Baldwinsville, NY | 7,715 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Seneca Falls, NY | 6,956 | 96 | 0.8x |
| South Hill, NY | 6,951 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Solvay, NY | 6,544 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Big Flats, NY | 5,651 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Sayre, PA | 5,431 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Westvale, NY | 5,212 | 107 | 0.9x |
