Binghamton cost of living
Prices in the Binghamton, NY metro area run at 92.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #211 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 69.7.
What drives the number
Prices in Binghamton run at 92.9 where the national average is 100, so about 7.1 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #211 of 387 metro areas. Against New York as a whole it is 15 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 69.7 against goods at 99.7 and other services at 131.6, so the overall figure of 92.9 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 92.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Binghamton is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 2,540 | $98,420 | $105,942 | $93,600 |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,490 | $34,100 | $36,706 | $34,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,430 | $31,950 | $34,392 | $30,480 |
| Cashiers | 2,350 | $31,280 | $33,671 | $31,190 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 2,160 | $38,270 | $41,195 | $37,090 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,080 | $37,050 | $39,882 | $34,900 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,980 | $34,690 | $37,341 | $35,930 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,840 | $31,880 | $34,316 | $35,240 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 92.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 112.6 | 148.6 | #5 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | 109.4 | 115.8 | #13 |
| Ithaca | 103.3 | 128.4 | #43 |
| Kingston | 100.7 | 110.2 | #76 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | 99.6 | 102.6 | #94 |
| Rochester | 97.0 | 87.5 | #129 |
Binghamton: common questions
Is Binghamton expensive?
Prices are 7.1% below the national average, a parity of 92.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #211 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against New York as a whole it is 15 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Binghamton?
The median worker there earns $48,380, which buys what $52,078 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 69.7 against goods at 99.7. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.