F
68%
Overall NAT. AVG.
27%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
184%
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 Merrick New York National
Cost of living168117100
Goods & Services127108100
Groceries113102100
Health care121103100
Housing284145100
Transportation115105100
Utilities102100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Merrick, NY

Knowing the cost of living in Merrick 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 Merrick stands at 168, marking it 68% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Merrick is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Merrick falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.

When it comes to the cost of living in Merrick, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 183.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

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 Merrick, these items will cost you 26.8% more than what's considered the norm, making it a more expensive place to call home.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Merrick does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 13.4% higher than the national average.

Is Merrick Affordable?

Is Merrick an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Merrick is 216.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 108.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Merrick has a median household income of $160,281, which is 189.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Merrick?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Merrick, healthcare costs are 20.6% 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.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Merrick, the utilities index is 1.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Merrick 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 Merrick is 44% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Merrick is 68% higher than the national average
  • Merrick housing is 184% 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 Merrick

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Compare Merrick, NY Cost of Living

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      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$161,899$13,492$3,777$4,857
      Renters$0$0$0$0
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Merrick is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Merrick has a median income of about $161,899 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,777 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $0. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $0 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Merrick National avg. Difference
      Haircut $34.94$24.2644.0%
      Beauty Salon $64.07$45.5640.6%
      Toothpaste $3.96$3.707.0%
      Shampoo $1.69$1.2832.3%
      Movie $13.68$12.1312.8%
      Bowling $29.40$18.0063.3%

      Groceries

      Item Merrick National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.87$5.840.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.576.9%
      Milk $4.97$4.676.3%
      Potatoes $5.21$4.935.7%
      Pizza $12.57$12.094.0%
      Beer $11.87$10.4114.0%

      Health Care

      Item Merrick National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.97$125.682.6%
      Doctor $162.24$135.7819.5%
      Dentist $149.64$113.2932.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.15$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $402.75$468.6014.1%

      Housing

      Item Merrick National avg. Difference
      Home Price $584,000.00$184,700.00216.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,916.73$2,346.69194.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,976.00$949.00108.2%

      Transportation

      Item Merrick National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.55$3.462.5%
      Tire Balancing $86.43$59.9244.2%

      Utilities

      Item Merrick National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.27$193.993.8%
      Phone $200.67$192.254.4%
      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.
      Wyandanch, NY11,63212726.6%
      Hempstead, NY55,15313635.8%
      Copiague, NY23,20013332.8%
      North Amityville, NY18,89013333.3%
      North Lindenhurst, NY10,86013433.6%
      Merrick, NY20,59416868.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gardner, MA20,60511211.7%
      Clemmons, NC20,5741065.7%
      Fernley, NV20,61611111.4%
      Bryant, AR20,563963.6%
      Prunedale, CA20,56016463.9%
      Merrick, NY20,59416868.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.