Atlantic Beach, NY vs Fire Island, NY

The cost of living difference between Atlantic Beach, NY and Fire Island, NY is dramatic. Fire Island is 50.1% cheaper than Atlantic Beach, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Atlantic Beach has a cost index of 214 while Fire Island sits at 142, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Atlantic Beach is $3,125/month compared to $1,750/month in Fire Island — a 79% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fire Island is more affordable at $608,500 median vs $969,400.

Median household income in Atlantic Beach is $161,344 compared to $90,179 in Fire Island (+78.9%). While Atlantic Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Atlantic Beach spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Fire Island.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.3°F vs 53.1°F). Fire Island receives more rainfall at 46" per year compared to 43.3" in Atlantic Beach.