Median rent is 11% lower in New York ($1,779/mo vs $1,994/mo). Buying is cheaper in Valley Stream, where the median home runs $605,000 versus $751,700. Households earn more in Valley Stream ($127,426 vs $79,713 a year).
City A
New York, NY
City B
Valley Stream, NY
How much would you need to earn in Valley Stream, NY to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
New York
New York
Valley Stream
New York
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in New York at $1,779/mo compared to $1,994/mo in Valley Stream (11% gap). Median home values are within 20% of each other: $751,700 in New York and $605,000 in Valley Stream.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% versus 10.90% in New York, so Valley Stream is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.00% in New York and 4.00% in New York; Valley Stream has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
New York
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Valley Stream
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 61.0) but not yet for Valley Stream.
Pick Valley Stream if you prioritize higher median household income ($127,426/yr).
Pick New York if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,779/mo median).
Is New York cheaper than Valley Stream?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in New York vs Valley Stream?
Median rent is $1,779/mo in New York, NY and $1,994/mo in Valley Stream, NY. New York, NY has the lower rent by about 11%.
Which has higher salaries — New York or Valley Stream?
Median household income is $79,713 in New York, NY and $127,426 in Valley Stream, NY. Valley Stream, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — New York or Valley Stream?
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% and New York's is 10.90%. Valley Stream, NY has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Valley Stream to match my New York income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology