The honest version, without fake precision. Staten Island is still New York City, so nothing here is truly cheap - but it is consistently the borough where your money buys the most home. Here is how the three big costs actually break down: housing, taxes, and getting around.
Compared to the rest of the country, yes - this is New York City. Compared to Manhattan and much of Brooklyn, Staten Island is the value borough. The reason comes down to housing. Instead of paying top dollar per square foot for an apartment, many Staten Islanders own a house with a yard, a driveway, and space that would be unthinkable at the same price across the bridge.
That said, your real cost of living depends less on averages and more on your specific situation - the home you buy, the taxes on it, and how you commute. Let's walk through each one so you can build a realistic budget rather than a guess.
Housing is the largest line item for almost every household, and it is where Staten Island shines. Whether you rent or own, you generally get more space per dollar than elsewhere in the city. Owners should budget beyond the mortgage, too - property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance on an actual house all add up.
I am deliberately not printing price figures that will be stale next month. For where prices sit right now and what a specific home costs, get a current read.
Property taxes are a real cost that catches some buyers off guard, and they vary meaningfully from home to home based on assessed value and property class. There is no single number that applies across the island, which is exactly why you should never budget off an average. Before you fall for a house, check the actual tax figure on that specific property.
This is one of the most practical things I do for buyers - pull the real taxes on any home you are considering so your monthly budget is built on facts, not assumptions. It is a small step that prevents a big surprise at closing.
Here is a genuine bright spot - the Staten Island Ferry is free. That keeps ferry based commuting affordable, even if you add a local bus or the railway to reach the terminal. Express buses into Manhattan cost more than a standard fare but save you the transfer. Drivers should budget for bridge tolls, gas, and parking depending on where they are headed.
Your transportation cost really comes down to your neighborhood and your commute style. A ferry and railway commuter and a New Jersey driver will have very different monthly numbers, so factor this in alongside the home price when you compare neighborhoods.
I am Joseph Ranola, Associate Broker and Team Leader of the Bridge and Boro Team at Real Broker LLC. I help Staten Island and Brooklyn buyers and sellers build realistic budgets around real properties, not averages.
It is part of New York City, so it is not inexpensive, but it is consistently the borough where your money stretches furthest. Housing per square foot tends to run lower than Manhattan and much of Brooklyn, and many residents own homes with yards and parking. Your total cost depends on the home, its taxes, and how you commute.
Property taxes are a real line item that varies by the home's assessed value and class. Because they differ home to home, check the actual figure on any property you are considering rather than an average. I can pull current taxes on any listing you are looking at.
The Staten Island Ferry is free, which keeps ferry commuting affordable, though you may add a bus or railway fare to reach the terminal. Express buses cost more than a standard fare. Drivers should budget for tolls, gas, and parking. Your cost depends on your neighborhood and how you travel.
For most households, housing is the largest single cost - a mortgage or rent, plus taxes, insurance, and maintenance for owners. Transportation and everyday expenses follow. The housing dollar generally goes further here than elsewhere in the city. For current numbers, request a free valuation.
Averages are useless when you are budgeting for an actual house. Send me a property and I will pull the real taxes and current value so your numbers are built on facts.