What is the cost of living in Niagara Falls, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Niagara Falls has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Niagara Falls has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Niagara Falls ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Niagara Falls ranks as the #322 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Niagara Falls, check out:
Niagara Falls Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Niagara Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Niagara Falls is 106.
The Groceries index in Niagara Falls is 108.
The Health index in Niagara Falls is 53.
The Housing index in Niagara Falls is 112.
The Transportation index in Niagara Falls is 114.
The Utilities index in Niagara Falls is 112.
| Living Expense | Niagara Falls | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 53 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 111 | 100 |
Niagara Falls 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 Niagara Falls Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls is $166,405.
The Median Rent in Niagara Falls is $823.
The Median Income in Niagara Falls is $49,101.
The Home Value To Income in Niagara Falls is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Niagara Falls is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Niagara Falls | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $166,405 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $823 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,101 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Niagara Falls, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Niagara Falls Services costs vs. New York
| Item | Niagara Falls | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.3 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.6 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.65 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Niagara Falls Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | Niagara Falls | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.16 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.26 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Niagara Falls Health costs vs. New York
| Item | Niagara Falls | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $75.93 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Niagara Falls Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | Niagara Falls | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.79 | $59.92 |
Detailed Niagara Falls Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | Niagara Falls | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.44 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.54 | $192.25 |
Niagara Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Niagara Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Niagara Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cheektowaga, NY has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Niagara Falls.
Youngstown, OH has a cost of living index of 76, 0.8x Niagara Falls.
North Tonawanda, NY has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Niagara Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Niagara Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheektowaga, NY | 76,056 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Youngstown, OH | 59,331 | 76 | 0.8x |
| North Tonawanda, NY | 30,198 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Kenmore, NY | 15,044 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Eggertsville, NY | 14,894 | 104 | 1.1x |
| University at Buffalo, NY | 7,020 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Harris Hill, NY | 6,069 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Williamsville, NY | 5,469 | 113 | 1.2x |
