What is the cost of living in Stony Brook, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Stony Brook has an overall cost of living index of 153, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Stony Brook has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Stony Brook ranks as #244 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Stony Brook ranks as the #92 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Stony Brook, check out:
Stony Brook Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stony Brook. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Stony Brook is 102.
The Groceries index in Stony Brook is 109.
The Health index in Stony Brook is 253.
The Housing index in Stony Brook is 110.
The Transportation index in Stony Brook is 112.
The Utilities index in Stony Brook is 114.
| Living Expense | Stony Brook | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 153 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 253 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 111 | 100 |
Stony Brook 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 Stony Brook Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Stony Brook, 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 Stony Brook is $766,794.
The Median Rent in Stony Brook is $3,501.
The Median Income in Stony Brook is $174,872.
The Home Value To Income in Stony Brook is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Stony Brook is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Stony Brook | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $766,794 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $174,872 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Stony Brook, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Stony Brook Services costs vs. New York
| Item | Stony Brook | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $32.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Stony Brook Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | Stony Brook | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.34 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.07 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.62 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Stony Brook Health costs vs. New York
| Item | Stony Brook | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $140.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $143.23 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $123.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Stony Brook Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | Stony Brook | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.68 | $59.92 |
Detailed Stony Brook Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | Stony Brook | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $281.67 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Stony Brook SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Stony Brook
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Stony Brook. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Commack, NY has a cost of living index of 154, 1.0x Stony Brook.
Centereach, NY has a cost of living index of 139, 0.9x Stony Brook.
West Islip, NY has a cost of living index of 150, 1.0x Stony Brook.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commack, NY | 36,558 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Centereach, NY | 31,839 | 139 | 0.9x |
| West Islip, NY | 26,865 | 150 | 1.0x |
| Plainview, NY | 25,982 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Smithtown, NY | 24,375 | 152 | 1.0x |
| Huntington, NY | 19,948 | 168 | 1.1x |
| Nesconset, NY | 13,833 | 154 | 1.0x |
| East Islip, NY | 13,573 | 145 | 0.9x |
| St. James, NY | 13,244 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Lake Grove, NY | 11,061 | 145 | 0.9x |
