Elmira, NY at a glance
Median household income
$43,120$3,593 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Elmira, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Elmira, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Elmira, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $949 | $11,388 | $37,960 | 26.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $978 | $11,736 | $39,120 | 27.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,283 | $15,396 | $51,320 | 35.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,606 | $19,272 | $64,240 | 44.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,713 | $20,556 | $68,520 | 47.7% |
What a typical income covers in Elmira, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $43,120 a year ($3,593 a month before tax).
What $43,120 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Elmira, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Elmira, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Elmira, NY is $43,120 per year (approximately $3,593 per month).
What is the average rent in Elmira, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $949 for a studio, $978 for one bedroom, $1,283 for two, $1,606 for three and $1,713 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Elmira, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.6% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 94.4, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Elmira, NY?
To keep a $1,283 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $51,320 a year, or $4,277 a month. That is 119% of what the typical household in Elmira, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Elmira, NY?
On the local median income of $43,120 ($3,593 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,797 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,078 for everything else and $719 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,283 takes 71% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Elmira, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.