Overall
94.4
-5.6 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Elmira, NY
Cost-of-living indicators for Elmira, NY, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 21300 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #178 of 387
Elmira, NY has a cost of living index of 94.4, meaning it's 5.6% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 0.3% less, services 31.6% more, and rents are 23.6% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $105,934 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Elmira
Elmira ranks #178 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 94.4, Elmira, NY is 5.6% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Elmira's most and least expensive categories — services at 131.6 versus rents at 76.4 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $105,934 inside Elmira, while a household needs roughly $94,398 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 76.4 — 23.6% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Elmira's overall index has stayed within 1.3 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 99.7 and services at 131.6, meaning everyday spending in Elmira is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Elmira Cost Index at a Glance
Elmira all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Elmira category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
99.7
-0.3 below avg
Services
131.6
+31.6 above avg
Rents
76.4
-23.6 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 94.4 (-5.6 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 99.7 (-0.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 131.6 (+31.6 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 76.4 (-23.6 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +31.6% (131.6)
Below National Average
Rents -23.6% (76.4)
Overall -5.6% (94.4)
Goods -0.3% (99.7)
Income Adequacy in Elmira
Elmira income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 94.4
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$94,398
in Elmira, NY purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$47,199
$75,000 nationally
$70,799
$125,000 nationally
$117,997
$150,000 nationally
$141,597
$200,000 nationally
$188,796
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.3 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.7 |
| 2009 | 96.6 |
| 2010 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 97.7 |
| 2012 | 94.4 |
| 2013 | 98.9 |
| 2014 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 97.8 |
| 2018 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.3 |
| 2021 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 92.7 |
| 2024 | 94.4 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Elmira, NY's index of 94.4.
Other NY Metros
Related Data for Elmira
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Elmira area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Elmira metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Elmira
School Districts
NCES school data for Elmira area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Elmira area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Elmira, NY? ▼
Elmira, NY has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 94.4, meaning it is 5.6% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 99.7, services at 131.6, and rents at 76.4. It ranks #178 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Elmira, NY to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $94,398 in Elmira, NY. Conversely, $100K earned in Elmira, NY has the purchasing power of $105,934 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Elmira, NY? ▼
Rents in Elmira, NY are indexed at 76.4, which is 23.6% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Elmira, NY getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Elmira, NY's overall cost index changed by -1.3 points (from 95.7 to 94.4). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Elmira, NY? ▼
The most expensive category in Elmira, NY is services at 131.6, which is 31.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 76.4, 23.6% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Elmira, NY? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Idaho Falls, Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Chambersburg. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Elmira, NY's 94.4.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
