B-
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
12%
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 Middletown New York National
Cost of living104118100
Goods & Services101108100
Groceries102102100
Health care106111100
Housing112144100
Transportation95107100
Utilities97101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Middletown, NY

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Middletown? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Middletown stands at 104, making it 4% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Middletown are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Middletown can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Middletown?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 7 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Middletown. The feedback revealed that 29% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 71% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Middletown Affordable?

Wondering if Middletown 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 Middletown, for example, the median home price is 2.2% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 33.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Middletown boasting a median household income of $86,182, which is 6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Middletown?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Middletown, the groceries index is 2.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Middletown, the utilities index registers 2.9% lower than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Middletown, the housing index is 11.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Middletown 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Middletown is 12% lower than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Middletown is 4% higher than the national average
  • Middletown housing is 12% higher 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 Middletown

See all the best places to live around Middletown

Compare Middletown, 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$128,271$10,689$2,993$3,849
      Renters$56,255$4,688$1,313$1,688
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Middletown, 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 Middletown have a median income of $128,271. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,993 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $56,255, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,313.

      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 Middletown National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.29$27.626.1%
      Beauty Salon $56.70$51.1110.9%
      Toothpaste $3.99$4.092.5%
      Shampoo $1.52$1.541.4%
      Movie $15.59$12.8821.1%
      Yoga $27.47$19.6639.7%

      Groceries

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.52$7.702.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.93$4.734.2%
      Potatoes $5.21$5.260.9%
      Pizza $10.71$12.7616.1%
      Beer $10.20$10.553.3%

      Health Care

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.50$140.0617.5%
      Doctor $187.21$153.8221.7%
      Dentist $119.25$123.153.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.87$11.731.2%
      Lipitor $24.87$23.615.3%

      Housing

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Home Price $333,666.00$326,622.002.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,098.21$2,480.2524.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,928.00$1,444.0033.5%

      Transportation

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.75$3.0610.0%
      Tire Balancing $70.16$65.217.6%

      Utilities

      Item Middletown National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $213.63$220.122.9%
      Phone $190.69$195.712.6%
      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.
      Monticello, NY6,569945.7%
      Port Jervis, NY8,716955.2%
      Wurtsboro, NY1,053991.3%
      Maybrook, NY3,70711110.6%
      Otisville, NY1,5701021.6%
      Middletown, NY29,0921043.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bethany, OR29,08916160.7%
      Saugus, MA29,08414141.2%
      Aberdeen, SD29,0548910.7%
      Williamsport, PA29,1309010.0%
      Jeffersontown, KY29,051990.9%
      Middletown, NY29,0921043.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.