A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
43%
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 Tonawanda city New York National
Cost of living84117100
Goods & Services94108100
Groceries97102100
Health care101103100
Housing57145100
Transportation95105100
Utilities94100100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tonawanda city, NY

Knowing the cost of living in Tonawanda city 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 Tonawanda city stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.

Housing expenses can absorb a substantial portion of your net income, sometimes exceeding 30%. Thankfully, Tonawanda city stands out by reporting housing costs that are 43.1% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Tonawanda city can allocate a more reasonable portion of their income to housing, allowing for greater financial flexibility.

Is Tonawanda city Affordable?

Wondering if Tonawanda city 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 Tonawanda city, for example, the median home price is 48.8% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 29.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Tonawanda city boasting a median household income of $48,047, which is 13.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tonawanda city?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Tonawanda city, is 43.1% lower than the national average.

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 Tonawanda city, healthcare costs are 0.9% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Tonawanda city 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 Tonawanda city is 29% lower than the New York average
  • The cost of living in Tonawanda city is 16% lower than the national average
  • Tonawanda city housing is 43% 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 Tonawanda city

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Compare Tonawanda city, 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$61,490$5,124$1,435$1,845
      Renters$27,014$2,251$630$811
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Tonawanda city 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. Tonawanda city has a median income of about $61,490 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,435 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $27,014. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $630 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 Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.65$24.2610.8%
      Beauty Salon $53.07$45.5616.5%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.5%
      Shampoo $1.30$1.281.8%
      Movie $12.76$12.135.2%
      Bowling $14.60$18.0018.9%

      Groceries

      Item Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.16$5.845.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.67$4.670.0%
      Potatoes $5.26$4.936.5%
      Pizza $10.99$12.099.1%
      Beer $10.47$10.410.6%

      Health Care

      Item Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $75.93$125.6839.6%
      Doctor $103.92$135.7823.5%
      Dentist $149.67$113.2932.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.42$10.652.2%
      Lipitor $464.18$468.600.9%

      Housing

      Item Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      Home Price $94,600.00$184,700.0048.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,421.64$2,346.693.2%
      Apartment Rent $666.00$949.0029.8%

      Transportation

      Item Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.46$3.460.1%
      Tire Balancing $48.79$59.9218.6%

      Utilities

      Item Tonawanda city National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $173.44$193.9910.6%
      Phone $195.54$192.251.7%
      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.
      South Lockport, NY8,3448020.4%
      Niagara Falls, NY47,9788218.5%
      Sloan, NY3,5478316.8%
      Lockport, NY20,4208415.7%
      Lackawanna, NY17,7518515.5%
      Tonawanda city, NY14,9918416.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      North Fair Oaks, CA14,992215114.8%
      Eden, NC14,9868316.8%
      Highland Springs, VA15,000982.0%
      Cowansville, QC14,980n/a 
      West Haven, UT15,00312020.5%
      Tonawanda city, NY14,9918416.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.