F
40%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
103%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Islip New York National
Cost of living140117100
Goods & Services113108100
Groceries105102100
Health care110103100
Housing203145100
Transportation102105100
Utilities131100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Islip, NY

The cost of living in Islip affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Islip is 140, which is 40% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Islip is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Islip falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Islip cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 102.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

The things you purchase regularly, like clothes, haircuts, movie tickets and gym memberships, can make a big dent in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. Unfortunately in Islip, these items will cost you 12.9% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

Is Islip Affordable?

Wondering if Islip is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Islip, for example, the median home price is 109% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 88.1% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Islip boasting a median household income of $109,857, which is 98.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Islip?

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Islip, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 4%, and income tax rates start at 4%.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Islip comes in at 31.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Islip cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Islip is 19% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Islip is 40% higher than the national average
  • Islip housing is 103% higher than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 77% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Islip

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Compare Islip, NY Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$118,804$9,900$2,772$3,564
      Renters$52,500$4,375$1,225$1,575
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Islip, NY, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Islip have a median income of $118,804. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,772 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $52,500, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,225.

      New York Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New York 4% 8.875%

      New York Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New York 4% 10.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      Haircut $32.33$24.2633.3%
      Beauty Salon $48.56$45.566.6%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.4%
      Movie $13.76$12.1313.4%
      Bowling $19.63$18.009.0%

      Groceries

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.34$5.848.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.4%
      Milk $4.73$4.671.2%
      Potatoes $5.03$4.931.9%
      Pizza $10.07$12.0916.7%
      Beer $10.62$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $140.10$125.6811.5%
      Doctor $143.23$135.785.5%
      Dentist $123.00$113.298.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.00$10.653.3%
      Lipitor $401.34$468.6014.4%

      Housing

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      Home Price $386,100.00$184,700.00109.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,857.27$2,346.6920.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,785.00$949.0088.1%

      Transportation

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.7%
      Tire Balancing $57.68$59.923.7%

      Utilities

      Item Islip National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $281.67$193.9945.2%
      Phone $185.16$192.253.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stony Brook University, NY8,57411212.4%
      Ocean Beach, NY3111212.4%
      Saltaire, NY2511212.4%
      Middle Island, NY11,03012424.2%
      Wyandanch, NY11,63212726.6%
      Islip, NY16,96514039.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Phoenixville, PA16,96111313.5%
      Edmundston, NB16,970n/a 
      Ojus, FL16,9721088.0%
      Poplar Bluff, MO16,9798217.6%
      La Marque, TX16,983918.9%
      Islip, NY16,96514039.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.