F
45%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
113%
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 North Wantagh New York National
Cost of living145118100
Goods & Services120108100
Groceries108102100
Health care130111100
Housing213144100
Transportation100107100
Utilities129101100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in North Wantagh, NY

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in North Wantagh? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in North Wantagh stands at 145, making it 45% 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.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, North Wantagh may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, North Wantagh falls within this bracket.

When it comes to the cost of living in North Wantagh, 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 112.5% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In North Wantagh, you can expect to pay 19.6% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Is North Wantagh Affordable?

Is North Wantagh 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 North Wantagh, the median home price is 154.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 14.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in North Wantagh come in at $209,517, which is 157.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in North Wantagh?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In North Wantagh, the groceries index is 8.4% 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 North Wantagh, healthcare costs are 29.7% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in North Wantagh displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in North Wantagh is 24% higher than the New York average
  • The cost of living in North Wantagh is 45% higher than the national average
  • North Wantagh housing is 113% 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 North Wantagh

See all the best places to live around North Wantagh

Compare North Wantagh, 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$217,672$18,139$5,079$6,531
      Renters$73,731$6,144$1,720$2,212
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in North Wantagh, NY, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for North Wantagh homeowners, is $217,672. This would allow for a maximum of $5,079 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $73,731 which would result in a maximum of $1,720 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      Haircut $35.58$27.6228.8%
      Beauty Salon $77.98$51.1152.6%
      Toothpaste $3.98$4.092.8%
      Shampoo $1.75$1.5413.5%
      Movie $18.17$12.8841.1%
      Yoga $32.45$19.6665.0%

      Groceries

      Item North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.15$7.707.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.54$1.667.4%
      Milk $5.20$4.739.9%
      Potatoes $5.64$5.267.3%
      Pizza $13.65$12.767.0%
      Beer $10.84$10.552.8%

      Health Care

      Item North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $173.75$140.0624.1%
      Doctor $292.23$153.8290.0%
      Dentist $142.76$123.1515.9%
      Ibuprofen $12.11$11.733.2%
      Lipitor $21.15$23.6110.4%

      Housing

      Item North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      Home Price $831,853.00$326,622.00154.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,693.50$2,480.25129.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,648.00$1,444.0014.1%

      Transportation

      Item North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.03$3.060.8%
      Tire Balancing $65.87$65.211.0%

      Utilities

      Item North Wantagh National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $319.28$220.1245.0%
      Phone $201.32$195.712.9%
      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, NY11,92513030.2%
      Brentwood, NY64,44813434.3%
      North Bay Shore, NY20,19813434.4%
      Hempstead, NY56,90813535.5%
      North Lindenhurst, NY11,09613635.9%
      North Wantagh, NY12,10214545.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Jerome, ID12,101918.9%
      Smyrna, DE12,1091077.5%
      Mackenzie County, AB12,113n/a 
      Oskaloosa, IA12,0908218.4%
      Little Chute, WI12,116945.6%
      North Wantagh, NY12,10214545.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.