🇺🇸 United States · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Yonkers? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, Getty Square, Nodine Hill or Park HillUSD 1,650–2,150 / month
One-bed apartment, a waterfront new build or near BronxvilleUSD 2,300–3,200 / month
Bee-Line bus single fareUSD 3.00; OMNY caps 12 rides in 7 days, so a week is never more than USD 35.00
Dinner for two at a South Broadway restaurantUSD 55–85
Coffee at an independent caféUSD 4.00–5.50
Groceries, one personUSD 420–560 / month
Electricity and gas heating, one-bed, December to MarchUSD 160–320 / month
Property tax on a USD 600,000 house — city (schools included) plus county≈USD 10,000 / year, plus refuse and sewer district charges
Good to know
Population
≈211,000 — New York State's third-largest city at the 2020 census, a few hundred people ahead of Rochester, and part of the New York metropolitan area
Languages
English; Spanish is the city's second language, with large Ecuadorian, Dominican and Mexican communities, alongside long-established Italian, Irish, Polish and Albanian ones
Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Time zone
Eastern Time — GMT-5 in winter, GMT-4 on daylight saving from mid-March to early November
Power plug
Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz
Climate
Humid subtropical shading into continental — hot muggy summers, cold winters with moderate snow, and nor'easters in late winter
Local income tax
Yes. A Yonkers resident surcharge of 16.75% of your net New York State tax, plus a 0.5% earnings tax on non-residents who work in the city. Only Yonkers and New York City levy one anywhere in the state
Minimum wage
USD 17.00/hour from 1 January 2026 — Westchester is on New York's higher downstate tier, the same as New York City, not the USD 16.00 that applies upstate
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Yonkers checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Yonkers
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.