What is the cost of living in Wading River, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wading River has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Wading River has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Wading River ranks as #232 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Wading River ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Wading River, check out:
Wading River Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wading River. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wading River is 102.
The Groceries index in Wading River is 109.
The Health index in Wading River is 251.
The Housing index in Wading River is 113.
The Transportation index in Wading River is 111.
The Utilities index in Wading River is 110.
| Living Expense | Wading River | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 251 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 111 | 100 |
Wading River 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 Wading River Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wading River, 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 Wading River is $734,450.
The Median Rent in Wading River is -.
The Median Income in Wading River is $136,549.
The Home Value To Income in Wading River is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wading River is nanx.
| Statistic | Wading River | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $734,450 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | - | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $136,549 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | nanx | 0.23x | 0.21x |
Wading River, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Wading River Services costs vs. New York
| Item | Wading River | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.47 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $39.78 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $69.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Wading River Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | Wading River | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.83 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.03 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Wading River Health costs vs. New York
| Item | Wading River | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $134.7 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.26 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.03 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wading River Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | Wading River | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wading River Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | Wading River | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $296.64 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.16 | $192.25 |
Wading River SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wading River
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wading River. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Medford, NY has a cost of living index of 134, 0.9x Wading River.
Selden, NY has a cost of living index of 135, 0.9x Wading River.
Farmingville, NY has a cost of living index of 140, 0.9x Wading River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wading River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medford, NY | 24,796 | 134 | 0.9x |
| Selden, NY | 21,604 | 135 | 0.9x |
| Farmingville, NY | 16,160 | 140 | 0.9x |
| Riverhead, NY | 14,936 | 132 | 0.9x |
| Manorville, NY | 14,233 | 141 | 0.9x |
| Nesconset, NY | 13,833 | 154 | 1.0x |
| Rocky Point, NY | 13,356 | 129 | 0.9x |
| St. James, NY | 13,244 | 149 | 1.0x |
| Stony Brook, NY | 12,868 | 153 | 1.0x |
| Ridge, NY | 12,503 | 127 | 0.8x |








