A
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
14%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Fairmount New York National
Cost of living96118100
Goods & Services102108100
Groceries97102100
Health care99111100
Housing86144100
Transportation106107100
Utilities93101100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fairmount, NY

The cost of living in Fairmount 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 Fairmount is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Fairmount closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Fairmount can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Fairmount Affordable?

Is Fairmount affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Fairmount, for instance, where the median home price falls 23.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 7.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Fairmount flaunting a median household income of $104,263, 28.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fairmount?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Fairmount, the utilities index registers at 6.6% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Fairmount, the groceries index is 2.7% lower than the national average.

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.

Where is the Data From?

The Fairmount 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Fairmount is 18% lower than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Fairmount is 4% lower than the national average
  • Fairmount housing is 14% lower than the national average
  • New York general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • New York state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Fairmount

See all the best places to live around Fairmount

Compare Fairmount, NY Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Fairmount?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Fairmount?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Fairmount poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$113,389$9,449$2,646$3,402
      Renters$73,984$6,165$1,726$2,220
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Fairmount, 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 Fairmount have a median income of $113,389. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,646 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $73,984, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,726.

      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 Fairmount National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.50$27.6211.3%
      Beauty Salon $45.33$51.1111.3%
      Toothpaste $4.05$4.091.0%
      Shampoo $1.38$1.5410.5%
      Movie $14.64$12.8813.7%
      Yoga $20.67$19.665.1%

      Groceries

      Item Fairmount National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.60$7.701.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.49$1.6610.4%
      Milk $4.82$4.731.8%
      Potatoes $5.45$5.263.7%
      Pizza $14.21$12.7611.3%
      Beer $10.25$10.552.8%

      Health Care

      Item Fairmount National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $203.17$140.0645.1%
      Doctor $125.67$153.8218.3%
      Dentist $124.13$123.150.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.68$11.730.4%
      Lipitor $22.97$23.612.7%

      Housing

      Item Fairmount National avg. Difference
      Home Price $248,998.00$326,622.0023.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,919.18$2,480.2517.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,558.00$1,444.007.9%

      Transportation

      Item Fairmount National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.15$3.063.2%
      Tire Balancing $74.50$65.2114.2%

      Utilities

      Item Fairmount National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $195.18$220.1211.3%
      Phone $198.89$195.711.6%
      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.
      Bridgeport, NY1,3828317.4%
      Jordan, NY1,4898911.1%
      Lyncourt, NY4,0348910.9%
      Syracuse, NY146,0638910.8%
      Phoenix, NY2,6969010.5%
      Fairmount, NY10,049964.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Scotchtown, NY10,04911212.0%
      St. Augustine Shores, FL10,0481065.8%
      Ellisville, MO10,0501076.7%
      Keansburg, NJ10,0501109.9%
      North Bend, OR10,0431088.0%
      Fairmount, NY10,049964.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.