Behind the calm streets and trimmed hedges of Long Island, one tiny hamlet is rewriting what “expensive” means. Here, the simple fact of paying for a roof, food and basic services demands a budget worthy of a luxury lifestyle. While most New Yorkers still picture other counties when they think of high prices, this quiet corner now sits at the very top of the state’s cost-of-living rankings, raising uneasy questions about what “normal” living now costs.
How this Long Island hamlet shot to the top of the list
A recent analysis from personal finance site GOBankingRates looks at where everyday life costs the most. Instead of focusing on flashy luxuries, the study tracks what families cannot avoid paying month after month. Mortgage bills, food, power, transport and medical costs form the backbone of this calculation.
Researchers compared suburbs across the Empire State and ranked them by average essential monthly bills. Their work shows which enclaves demand the highest outlay just to keep lights on and pantries stocked. Fifteen of the twenty most expensive suburbs sit in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.
To build the ranking, GOBankingRates drew on several official data sets rather than guesswork. Local incomes and housing costs are shown in data from the US Census American Community Survey. The 2023 Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics complete the picture of daily spending trends.
Inside the staggering monthly budget of Sands Point households
Sands Point, a charming village on Long Island’s North Shore, is at the top of the list. Residents value their privacy here, where waterfront estates and well-kept lawns border the bay. In fact, the setting is so expensive that many wealthy professionals are forced to reconsider their plans.
An average Sands Point family’s monthly bill for necessities is estimated to be $17,400. A startling $14,787 mortgage payment is already included in this estimate, leaving the family with very little money for savings or extras. The cost of groceries, public utilities, commuting, and healthcare must be tallied on top of that existing obligation.
Those familiar with the housing market see those possible charges reflected in real estate. An average home in Sands Point now sells for close to $2.98 million, which ranks its cost of living far above any other upscale suburb. Since many of the properties are grand estates, boasting a larger-sized home or personal dock or yard, that sticker price carefully pushes it up the progression.
Old Westbury and Muttontown sit just behind the front-runner
Right behind Sands Point comes Old Westbury, another community where comfort carries a serious price. For residents there, essential monthly spending adds up to roughly $15,889, before any extras like travel or leisure. That amount covers the same basket of basics: housing, food, energy, transportation and health-care needs.
Muttontown, a tiny, affluent village of about 3,500 people, comes in third. Large lots, tree-lined streets, and roomy residences all contribute to the exclusive ambiance. Only the most affluent people can afford daily living there because those same features drive up property values and fixed monthly expenses.
Both Old Westbury and Muttontown share key traits with the other elite enclaves on Long Island. They sit within reach of New York City’s job market while offering space and quiet. That mix of access and seclusion helps keep demand strong and keeps prices firmly in the upper tier.
Why so many Long Island suburbs dominate New York’s cost-of-living charts
The dominance of these communities is not random. High-income professionals are drawn to coastal towns with large homes and robust school systems. Prices remain high because there is a strong demand for that combination of space, sea air, and access to New York City. Land supply is limited as well.
When housing eats such a large share of the budget, every other essential becomes more expensive by default. Property taxes tied to high values add another heavy line to the monthly bill. For this reason, the coasts of Long Island are home to fifteen of the twenty most expensive suburbs in the state.
This dynamic is evident along the shore at upscale beach resorts like Southampton and Montauk. Their names are often linked with weekend escapes, yet the same forces of demand and space shape local budgets. Even away from peak tourist season, everyday costs remain anchored at very high levels.
Westchester’s waterfront villages still face striking everyday bills
High prices are not limited to Long Island’s shores. In Westchester County, Larchmont ranks as the suburb with the highest bill for essentials. This waterfront community appears in eighth place on the list, just behind Southampton and Montauk. Households there pay over $9,000 each month for basic needs.
Bronxville, Armonk, Chappaqua, and Pelham are the four additional names that Westchester adds to the list. These commuter towns all have quick rail connections to Manhattan, walkable centers, and excellent schools. In all of them, the study found that essential monthly costs also sit above the $9,000 mark.
Compared with the record figures in Sands Point or Old Westbury, these sums look smaller at first glance. Yet they still represent an enormous share of income for many professional households. The gap shows how costly suburban life has become, even before families think about savings or retirement.
What these soaring suburban bills say about life choices
Taken together, the numbers from this study sketch a new map of everyday luxury in New York. A quiet cul-de-sac or harbor view now comes with commitments that last for decades. Families weighing a move to Long Island or Westchester need to budget for both the dream home and recurring bills. Looking closely at essentials first may be the best safeguard against financial strain. That way, the search for comfort stays aligned with long-term peace of mind.
