Fort Drum, NY vs Niagara Falls, NY

The cost of living difference between Fort Drum, NY and Niagara Falls, NY is dramatic. Niagara Falls is 59% cheaper than Fort Drum, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Drum has a cost index of 104 while Niagara Falls sits at 66, 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.

Renters will find that Fort Drum has a median rent of $1,563/month while Niagara Falls comes in at $784/month, a 99% difference.

Median household income in Fort Drum is $63,194 compared to $48,535 in Niagara Falls (+30.2%). The higher salaries in Fort Drum partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Drum spend roughly 29.7% of their income on rent, more than the 19.4% in Niagara Falls.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45.3°F vs 47.7°F). Fort Drum receives more rainfall at 37.1" per year compared to 33" in Niagara Falls.