Albany, New York
Living in Albany, New York is about 8% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 108 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,693 a month, 12% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 43% of the area's $83,149 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,693
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$16.52
Combo meal
Electricity
28.65¢
per kWh · ~$258/mo
Car Insurance
$248/mo
$2,980/yr
Median Household Income
$83,149
43.4% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,980 in Albany. Compare rates:
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,693/mo in Albany. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.39 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.37 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$8.20 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$5.37 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.59 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$9.24 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.88 | $5.39 | +38.9% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.69 | $5.37 | +14.5% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.79 | $8.20 | +41.6% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.33 | $5.37 | +24.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.05 | $6.59 | +30.5% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.59 | $9.24 | +40.2% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$16.52
Casual Dining
$31.75
Monthly Spend
$489.14
+3.75% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $10.24
$16.52
+61.3%Wendy's
2022: $11.56
$17.84
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $12.39
$18.50
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $5.23
$7.26
+38.8%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Albany?
Average 1BR: $1,388/mo · 2BR: $1,998/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
233k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,584
$82k/yr
Top Sector
Education & Health Services
Household vs Worker Pay
$83k
household median
Employment by Sector — Albany
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$70k/yr
~$58k/yr
~$87k/yr
~$31k/yr
~$111k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 36001
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$2,144/wk · $111k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$592/wk · $31k/yr
Albany Cost of Living FAQ
Is Albany, NY expensive to live in?
Albany has a cost of living index of 108, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 8% more expensive than average. It is the 4th most affordable of the 18 New York cities we track.
What is the average rent in Albany, NY?
Typical rent in Albany is $1,693 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 12% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,388 and two bedrooms about $1,998. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Albany?
Rent in Albany rose 4.7% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Albany?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.23 a gallon in Albany as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for New York. That is 6% above the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Albany?
Homes in New York pay an average of 28.6 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Albany is about $258.
How much is car insurance in Albany?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,980 a year in New York, or about $248 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Albany?
Median household income in the Albany area is $83,149 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $36,095 a year, or 43% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,165 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Albany compare with the rest of New York?
Rent in Albany is 4% above the $1,625 average across the 18 New York cities we track, and its cost of living index of 108 compares with a state average of 131.
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