Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- Queens’ median asking rent was $3,744 in Q3 2026, up 3.9% from a year earlier and below the citywide median of $3,785 (Realtor.com).
- Existing Queens renters paid a median contract rent of $1,803 a month in 2024, more than in Brooklyn ($1,729), even though Queens asking rents are lower (NYC Rent Guidelines Board, Census ACS).
- Queens’ median household income was $86,136 in 2020–2024 (NYS Comptroller, Census ACS).
- A year of Queens’ median asking rent equals 52.2% of Queens’ median household income, the lowest share of the four boroughs Realtor.com tracks (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- Passing a 40× income screen on Queens’ median asking rent takes $149,760 a year (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- Most of Queens gets natural gas from National Grid; parts of northern Queens are Con Edison gas territory, and the Rockaways are served by National Grid’s Long Island operations (National Grid).
How much is rent in Queens in 2026?
Queens’ median asking rent was $3,744 a month in Q3 2026, up 3.9% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com’s 2026 Q3 NYC Rental Report. That is $41 below the citywide median of $3,785 and $453 below Brooklyn.
Queens’ existing renters pay more than their asking rents might suggest. The median Queens contract rent was $1,803 a month in 2024 and the median gross rent was $1,914, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board, both second only to Manhattan. Queens contract rents topped Brooklyn’s ($1,729) even though Brooklyn’s new listings ask more, so the asking-to-contract gap in Queens is a smaller $1,941.
| Measure | Queens | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median asking rent, new listings (all sizes) | $3,744 | Q3 2026 | Realtor.com |
| Median contract rent, existing renters | $1,803 | 2024 | Census ACS via NYC RGB |
| Median gross rent (rent + utilities), existing renters | $1,914 | 2024 | Census ACS via NYC RGB |
| Gap: asking rent minus contract rent | $1,941 | — | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
How much do you need to make to live in Queens?
Renting Queens’ median-priced listing under the 40× rule takes $149,760 a year in income (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation: $3,744 × 40). That is $18,120 less than Brooklyn and $65,240 less than Manhattan under the same rule.
Queens’ median household income was $86,136 in the 2020–2024 Census American Community Survey, up 1.9% after inflation since 2019, according to the New York State Comptroller. A year of Queens’ median asking rent equals 52.2% of that income, the lowest ratio among the four boroughs in Realtor.com’s series.
| Measure | Queens | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (all households) | $86,136 | 2020–2024 | Census ACS via NYS Comptroller |
| Income to pass a 40× screen on the median asking rent | $149,760 | Q3 2026 rent | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
| A year of median asking rent as a share of median household income | 52.2% | — | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
Queens residents pay New York City income tax on top of state and federal tax; the NYC salary calculator includes it.
How rent-burdened are Queens renters?
The median Queens renter household spent 31.4% of its income on gross rent in 2024, above the citywide median of 30.9%, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board. In Queens, 52.6% of renter households paid 30% or more of their income in rent and 28.0% paid half or more.
Queens renter incomes rose 1.4% after inflation in 2024, according to the Rent Guidelines Board.
| Measure | Queens | NYC |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent-to-income ratio | 31.4% | 30.9% |
| Renter households paying 30%+ of income on rent | 52.6% | 51.6% |
| Renter households paying 50%+ of income on rent | 28.0% | 28.8% |
Who provides gas and electricity in Queens?
Queens is split between utilities. National Grid delivers natural gas in most of Queens, Con Edison delivers gas in parts of northern Queens, and the Rockaways get gas from National Grid’s Long Island operations, according to National Grid’s service-area information. Con Edison delivers electricity in most of Queens, but the Rockaway peninsula’s electricity comes from PSEG Long Island. Check your address before comparing utility bills.
What does it cost to get around Queens?
A subway or local bus ride in Queens costs $3.00 in 2026, with OMNY capping fares at $35 within seven days on the same card or device, according to the MTA. Queens drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay the congestion relief zone toll, $9 for a car with E-ZPass at peak hours in 2026. See MTA fares.
Why do Queens rent and income figures differ?
- Asking vs. contract rent. Realtor.com measures what new listings ask; the Census American Community Survey measures what households already renting pay, including rent-stabilized tenants.
- Different years. Asking rents here are from Q3 2026; the latest Census rent and income figures describe 2024.
- Household vs. renter income. Median household income includes homeowners; the rent-to-income ratio uses renter households only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is rent in Queens in 2026?
Queens’ median asking rent was $3,744 a month in Q3 2026, up 3.9% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com, below the citywide median of $3,785. Existing Queens renters paid a median contract rent of $1,803 a month in 2024, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s analysis of Census data, second only to Manhattan.
Is Queens cheaper than Brooklyn?
For new leases, yes. Queens’ median asking rent was $3,744 a month in Q3 2026, $453 less than Brooklyn’s $4,197, according to Realtor.com. For existing tenants, no: the 2024 median contract rent was $1,803 in Queens versus $1,729 in Brooklyn, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board.
How much do you need to make to live in Queens?
To rent Queens’ median-priced listing of $3,744 a month under the 40× rule many landlords use, you need $149,760 a year in income (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation). Roommates can usually combine incomes. Queens’ median household income was $86,136 in 2020–2024, according to the New York State Comptroller.
Who is the gas company in Queens?
It depends on the address. National Grid delivers natural gas in most of Queens, Con Edison delivers gas in parts of northern Queens, and the Rockaways are served by National Grid’s Long Island operations, according to National Grid. Electricity in most of Queens comes from Con Edison, but the Rockaway peninsula’s electric service is PSEG Long Island.
What share of income do Queens renters spend on rent?
The median Queens renter household spent 31.4% of its income on gross rent in 2024, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s 2026 Income and Affordability Study, above the citywide median of 30.9%. About 52.6% of Queens renter households paid 30% or more of income in rent, and 28.0% paid half or more.
Related: Compare the five boroughs · Manhattan cost of living · Brooklyn cost of living · The Bronx cost of living · How much it costs to live in NYC · NYC salary calculator · NYC one-bedroom rent · NYC move-in costs · MTA fares · Staten Island cost of living · NYC utility bills
Sources
- Realtor.com, 2026 Q3 NYC Rental Report (Oct 27, 2026)
- NYC Rent Guidelines Board, 2026 Income and Affordability Study (2024 American Community Survey data) (Apr 16, 2026)
- Office of the New York State Comptroller, Median Income: For Many New Yorkers, Incomes Not Keeping Pace with Inflation (Census ACS 5-year 2020–2024, Table S1901) (2026)
- National Grid, Natural Gas Pipeline Safety: New York City service area (Brooklyn, Queens except the Rockaways and Con Ed territory, Staten Island) (Jan 2023)
- PSEG, PSEG Long Island to continue serving Long Island and the Rockaways (operates LIPA’s electric grid, including the Rockaway Peninsula) (Sept 25, 2025)
- MTA, Congestion Relief Zone tolls (2026)
- MTA, Fares and tolls (Jan 4, 2026)