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Cortland, NY

Cost of living in Cortland County, NY

Estimated monthly cost
$2,973/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 46,401 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $901 30%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $447 15%
Groceries $404 14%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $208 7%
State tax $158 5%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Cortland County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$896
per month
1 bedroom
$901
per month
2 bedroom
$1,118
per month
3 bedroom
$1,387
per month
4 bedroom
$1,877
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Cortland County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$67,527
per year
Individual earnings
$37,383
per year
Per capita
$33,818
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Cortland County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$158,100
Annual property tax
$4,184

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Cortland County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$140
per month · 23.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$68
per month
Annual total
$2,496
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Cortland County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Cortland County

State and local tax rates for New York.

State income tax
10.9%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.0%
Combined sales tax
8.5%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Cortland County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.7 min
Drive alone
74.6%
Public transit
1.0%
Work from home
7.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Cortland County

What it costs to live in Cortland County each month.

Single person
$2,973
per month
  • Rent $901
  • Energy $208
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $404
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $447
  • State tax $158
Couple
$4,457
per month
  • Rent $1,118
  • Energy $250
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $669
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $775
  • State tax $296
Family
$6,931
per month
  • Rent $1,387
  • Energy $312
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $1,016
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $775
  • State tax $296

Frequently asked questions about Cortland County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Cortland County?

In Cortland County, NY, a one-bedroom apartment averages $901 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,118 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,387 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Cortland County?

In Cortland County, NY, the average household income is $67,527 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $37,383 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Cortland County?

The estimated cost of living in Cortland County, NY is approximately $2,973 per month for a single person, $4,457 for a couple, $6,931 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Cortland County?

The combined sales tax rate in Cortland County, NY is 8.52%, which includes the New York state rate of 4.00% plus an average local rate of 4.52%.

Is Cortland County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Cortland County, NY would need approximately $2,973 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $67,527 per year ($5,627 per month). Cortland County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Cortland County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Cortland County, NY is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Cortland County?

The average home value in Cortland County, NY is $158,100, with average annual property taxes of $4,184, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Cortland County compare to other areas?

You can compare Cortland County, NY with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Cortland County is in the Cortland, NY metro area.

Other counties in New York

Browse the full list of counties in New York, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in New York

Compare Cortland County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources