What is the cost of living in Schenectady, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Schenectady has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Schenectady has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Schenectady ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Schenectady ranks as the #297 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Schenectady, check out:
Schenectady Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Schenectady. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Schenectady is 104.
The Groceries index in Schenectady is 112.
The Health index in Schenectady is 71.
The Housing index in Schenectady is 110.
The Transportation index in Schenectady is 110.
The Utilities index in Schenectady is 113.
| Living Expense | Schenectady | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 71 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 111 | 100 |
Schenectady 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 Schenectady Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Schenectady, 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 Schenectady is $318,449.
The Median Rent in Schenectady is $1,145.
The Median Income in Schenectady is $58,399.
The Home Value To Income in Schenectady is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Schenectady is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Schenectady | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $318,449 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,145 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,399 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Schenectady, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Schenectady Services costs vs. New York
| Item | Schenectady | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.28 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.08 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.96 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.28 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $51.36 | $45.56 |
Detailed Schenectady Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | Schenectady | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.06 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.6 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.85 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.09 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.9 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Schenectady Health costs vs. New York
| Item | Schenectady | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $132.47 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $111.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $111.69 | $113.29 |
Detailed Schenectady Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | Schenectady | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.55 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Schenectady Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | Schenectady | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $196.7 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.71 | $192.25 |
Schenectady SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Schenectady
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Schenectady. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Albany, NY has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Schenectady.
Saratoga Springs, NY has a cost of living index of 135, 1.4x Schenectady.
Rotterdam, NY has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Schenectady.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 100,492 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Saratoga Springs, NY | 28,631 | 135 | 1.4x |
| Rotterdam, NY | 22,695 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Niskayuna, NY | 21,227 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Cohoes, NY | 18,159 | 104 | 1.1x |
| East Glenville, NY | 11,914 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Rensselaer, NY | 9,287 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Westmere, NY | 8,334 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Colonie, NY | 7,702 | 118 | 1.2x |
| Scotia, NY | 7,264 | 103 | 1.1x |
