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Kingston, NY

Cost of living in Ulster County, NY

Part of the Kingston Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,650/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 182,109 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,371 38%
Federal tax $609 17%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $404 11%
Transport $320 9%
Energy $208 6%
State tax $203 6%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Ulster County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,370
per month
1 bedroom
$1,371
per month
2 bedroom
$1,799
per month
3 bedroom
$2,278
per month
4 bedroom
$2,466
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Ulster County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$81,804
per year
Individual earnings
$47,261
per year
Per capita
$45,702
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Ulster County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$315,100
Annual property tax
$6,124

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Ulster 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 Ulster County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.4%

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 Ulster 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 Ulster County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
27.8 min
Drive alone
70.9%
Public transit
2.1%
Work from home
15.4%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Ulster County

What it costs to live in Ulster County each month.

Single person
$3,650
per month
  • Rent $1,371
  • Energy $208
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $404
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $609
  • State tax $203
Couple
$5,438
per month
  • Rent $1,799
  • Energy $250
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $669
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,009
  • State tax $362
Family
$8,122
per month
  • Rent $2,278
  • Energy $312
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $1,016
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,009
  • State tax $362

Frequently asked questions about Ulster County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Ulster County?

In Ulster County, NY, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,371 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,799 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,278 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Ulster County?

In Ulster County, NY, the average household income is $81,804 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $47,261 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Ulster County?

The estimated cost of living in Ulster County, NY is approximately $3,650 per month for a single person, $5,438 for a couple, $8,122 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Ulster County?

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

Is Ulster County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Ulster County, NY would need approximately $3,650 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $81,804 per year ($6,817 per month). Ulster County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Ulster County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Ulster County, NY is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Ulster County?

The average home value in Ulster County, NY is $315,100, with average annual property taxes of $6,124, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Ulster County compare to other areas?

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