Long Beach, NY vs Stony Brook, NY

Long Beach, NY and Stony Brook, NY have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Long Beach scores 166 while Stony Brook scores 168 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $2,377/month compared to $2,643/month in Stony Brook — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Long Beach has cheaper rent, Stony Brook actually has lower median home values ($587,300 vs $661,500).

Median household income in Long Beach is $130,795 compared to $162,054 in Stony Brook (-19.3%). While Stony Brook is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, more than the 19.6% in Stony Brook.