Old Westbury, NY vs Stony Brook, NY

The cost of living difference between Old Westbury, NY and Stony Brook, NY is dramatic. Stony Brook is 84.6% cheaper than Old Westbury, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Old Westbury has a cost index of 310 while Stony Brook sits at 168, 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 Old Westbury is $3,501/month compared to $2,643/month in Stony Brook — a 33% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Stony Brook is more affordable at $587,300 median vs $2,000,001.

Median household income in Old Westbury is $250,001 compared to $162,054 in Stony Brook (+54.3%). The higher salaries in Old Westbury partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Old Westbury spend roughly 16.8% of their income on rent, less than the 19.6% in Stony Brook.