City Comparison

Lowell vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

7.7%

Lowell is 7.7% less expensive than Yonkers overall. A household earning $75,000 in Lowell would need approximately $81,298 in Yonkers to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
152
Lowell
203
Yonkers
Groceries
104
Lowell
106
Yonkers
Utilities
151
Lowell
117
Yonkers
Transportation
108
Lowell
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
118
Lowell
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Lowell has the same purchasing power as $81,298 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $69,190 in Lowell.

Living in Lowell vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Lowell's housing index of 152 is lower Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $429,000 vs $635,000. The $206,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,392 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,925/mo in Lowell compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Lowell and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Lowell vs $504/month in Yonkers. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 151 in Lowell and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $604 in Lowell vs $468 in Yonkers. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 118 in Lowell and 107 in Yonkers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $79,700 in Lowell and $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,840 and $56,761 respectively. Lowell residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,860/month to housing in Lowell vs $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lowell is 7.7% more affordable overall with an index of 131 vs 142.
A $75,000 salary in Lowell has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,298 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Lowell's housing index is 152 with median homes at $429,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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