What is the cost of living in West Hempstead, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Hempstead has an overall cost of living index of 151, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, West Hempstead has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in West Hempstead ranks as #232 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies West Hempstead ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in West Hempstead, check out:
West Hempstead Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Hempstead. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Hempstead is 107.
The Groceries index in West Hempstead is 107.
The Health index in West Hempstead is 249.
The Housing index in West Hempstead is 108.
The Transportation index in West Hempstead is 114.
The Utilities index in West Hempstead is 111.
| Living Expense | West Hempstead | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 151 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 249 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 111 | 100 |
West Hempstead 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 West Hempstead Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
West Hempstead, 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 West Hempstead is $783,621.
The Median Rent in West Hempstead is $2,967.
The Median Income in West Hempstead is $164,127.
The Home Value To Income in West Hempstead is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Hempstead is 0.22x.
| Statistic | West Hempstead | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $783,621 | $507,794 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,967 | $1,621 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $164,127 | $85,974 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 5.9x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.23x | 0.21x |
West Hempstead, NY Costs By Category
Detailed West Hempstead Services costs vs. New York
| Item | West Hempstead | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.69 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.68 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $34.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $64.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed West Hempstead Groceries costs vs. New York
| Item | West Hempstead | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.87 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.97 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.87 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed West Hempstead Health costs vs. New York
| Item | West Hempstead | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.97 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.24 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.64 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Hempstead Transportation costs vs. New York
| Item | West Hempstead | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.55 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.43 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Hempstead Utilities costs vs. New York
| Item | West Hempstead | New York |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.67 | $192.25 |
West Hempstead SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Hempstead
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Hempstead. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hempstead, NY has a cost of living index of 133, 0.9x West Hempstead.
Levittown, NY has a cost of living index of 142, 0.9x West Hempstead.
Franklin Square, NY has a cost of living index of 153, 1.0x West Hempstead.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Hempstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead, NY | 58,801 | 133 | 0.9x |
| Levittown, NY | 51,904 | 142 | 0.9x |
| Franklin Square, NY | 30,897 | 153 | 1.0x |
| Plainview, NY | 25,982 | 166 | 1.1x |
| Rockville Centre, NY | 25,765 | 172 | 1.1x |
| Merrick, NY | 21,744 | 163 | 1.1x |
| Massapequa, NY | 21,389 | 165 | 1.1x |
| Syosset, NY | 18,433 | 180 | 1.2x |
| Woodmere, NY | 18,061 | 186 | 1.2x |
| Massapequa Park, NY | 16,963 | 158 | 1.0x |
