| Index | Melville | New York | National |
| Cost of living | 178 | 121 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Housing | 339 | 144 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 112 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 106 | 111 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 114 | 118 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Melville allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Melville stands at 178, marking it 78% higher than the national average.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Melville may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Melville falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Melville cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 238.6% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Melville an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Melville, the median home price is 265.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 174.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Melville come in at $163,322, which is 100.8% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Melville, the transportation index is 10.9% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Melville, healthcare costs are 10.8% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Melville are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $183,068 | $15,256 | $4,271 | $5,493 |
| Renters | $112,404 | $9,367 | $2,623 | $3,372 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New York | 4% | 8.875% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New York | 4% | 10.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ocean Beach, NY | 32 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Saltaire, NY | 26 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Stony Brook University, NY | 8,775 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Wyandanch, NY | 11,925 | 125 | 25.1% |
| Central Islip, NY | 34,526 | 128 | 28.1% |
| Melville, NY | 18,448 | 178 | 77.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,441 | 166 | 66.0% |
| Steubenville, OH | 18,439 | 86 | 13.6% |
| Jenison, MI | 18,457 | 103 | 2.9% |
| Albert Lea, MN | 18,460 | 89 | 11.0% |
| El Dorado, AR | 18,461 | 85 | 14.5% |
| Melville, NY | 18,448 | 178 | 77.6% |
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