Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- Typical asking rent on Staten Island ranged from $2,121 a month in 10309 to $3,083 in 10310 in September 2026, with a middle ZIP code of $2,549, versus $3,128 for the middle NYC ZIP code (Zillow Observed Rent Index; NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
- Staten Island renter households paid a median contract rent of $1,569 a month in 2024, $126 less than the citywide median of $1,695 (NYC Rent Guidelines Board, Census ACS).
- Staten Island’s median household income was $98,333 over 2020–2024, second only to Manhattan among the five boroughs (Office of the NYS Comptroller, Census ACS).
- The Staten Island Ferry to Lower Manhattan is free, and registered Staten Island residents pay an effective $2.75 Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge toll with E-ZPass (NYC DOT; MTA).
- Staten Island has about 8,200 rent-stabilized apartments, a small share of the city’s roughly one million (NYC Independent Budget Office).
How much is rent on Staten Island?
Typical asking rent for apartments and homes listed on Staten Island ranged from $2,121 a month in ZIP code 10309 to $3,083 in 10310 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The middle Staten Island ZIP code was $2,549, the lowest of the five boroughs and $579 below the middle New York City ZIP code (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
Realtor.com’s quarterly New York City rent report, used for the other borough pages, covers only Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, so Staten Island asking rents here come from Zillow. Typical asking rent in the middle Staten Island ZIP code rose +5.2% over the year to September 2026. See every ZIP on NYC rent by ZIP code.
| ZIP | Neighborhood (NYC Health Dept.) | Typical asking rent | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10310 | Port Richmond | $3,083 | n/a |
| 10304 | Stapleton – St. George | $2,760 | +3.9% |
| 10301 | Stapleton – St. George | $2,634 | +5.2% |
| 10306 | South Beach – Tottenville | $2,591 | +5.3% |
| 10312 | South Beach – Tottenville | $2,582 | +11.4% |
| 10314 | Willowbrook | $2,515 | +6.6% |
| 10305 | Stapleton – St. George | $2,485 | +4.6% |
| 10307 | South Beach – Tottenville | $2,214 | n/a |
| 10308 | South Beach – Tottenville | $2,167 | n/a |
| 10309 | South Beach – Tottenville | $2,121 | +3.2% |
What do Staten Island renters actually pay?
Staten Island renter households paid a median contract rent of $1,569 a month in 2024, or $1,718 including utilities (gross rent), according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s analysis of Census data. That is below the citywide medians of $1,695 and $1,811, because these figures include long-time tenants, not just new listings.
Rent still takes a large share of income. In 2024, 53.7% of Staten Island renter households spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities, slightly above the citywide 51.6%, and 26.3% spent half or more (NYC Rent Guidelines Board).
| Area | Median contract rent | Median gross rent | Median rent-to-income | Paying 30%+ | Paying 50%+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staten Island | $1,569 | $1,718 | 31.7% | 53.7% | 26.3% |
| New York City | $1,695 | $1,811 | 30.9% | 51.6% | 28.8% |
How much do Staten Island households earn?
Staten Island’s median household income was $98,333 over 2020–2024, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, second only to Manhattan’s $103,931. Adjusted for inflation, it was 3.5% lower than in 2019, the largest decline of the five boroughs in the Comptroller’s comparison.
Many New York City landlords ask for annual income of 40 times the monthly rent. At the middle Staten Island ZIP code’s typical asking rent of $2,549, that is $101,960 a year (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation: rent × 40). Use the NYC salary calculator to add taxes and other bills.
| Borough | Median household income |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | $103,931 |
| Staten Island | $98,333 |
| Queens | $86,136 |
| Brooklyn | $80,263 |
| The Bronx | $48,676 |
How much does it cost to get around from Staten Island?
The Staten Island Ferry between St. George and Whitehall in Lower Manhattan is free, runs every day of the year and takes about 25 minutes each way, according to NYC DOT. The Staten Island Railway charges the standard $3.00 fare, which the MTA collects as riders enter or leave at St. George, the ferry terminal station, or Tompkinsville.
Express buses to Manhattan cost $7.25 a ride, with a $67 seven-day cap that also covers local buses and the subway (MTA). Drivers pay the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge toll: $7.46 with a New York E-ZPass, $12.03 by mail, or an effective $2.75 for registered Staten Island residents through the MTA’s rebate program. A resident crossing 20 times a month would pay about $55 in tolls (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
| Trip | Cost | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Staten Island Ferry (St. George – Whitehall) | Free | NYC DOT |
| Staten Island Railway | $3.00, paid entering or leaving at St. George or Tompkinsville | MTA |
| Local bus | $3.00; $35 OMNY 7-day cap | MTA |
| Express bus to Manhattan | $7.25; $67 7-day cap | MTA |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, car, Staten Island resident E-ZPass | $2.75 effective (with MTA rebate) | MTA |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, car, standard NY E-ZPass | $7.46 | MTA |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, car, Tolls by Mail | $12.03 | MTA |
What else costs the same on Staten Island as in the rest of NYC?
Staten Island residents pay the same New York City taxes as the other four boroughs: the 8.875% combined sales tax and the city income tax of 3.078% to 3.876% on top of state and federal tax. The $17.00 minimum wage also applies. See NYC sales tax and NYC income tax.
Con Edison delivers electricity on Staten Island and National Grid delivers natural gas, according to National Grid’s service-area map. National Grid’s approved rate plan raised a typical heating customer’s gas bill 11.1%, or $22.09 a month, on April 1, 2026. See NYC utility bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Staten Island cheaper than the rest of New York City?
For rent, yes. The middle Staten Island ZIP code had a typical asking rent of $2,549 in September 2026, versus $3,128 for the middle NYC ZIP code (Zillow). Staten Island renters paid a median contract rent of $1,569 in 2024, below the citywide $1,695 (NYC Rent Guidelines Board). Taxes and the minimum wage are the same citywide.
How much is rent on Staten Island?
Typical asking rent on Staten Island ranged from $2,121 a month in ZIP code 10309 to $3,083 in 10310 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index. Existing renters pay less: the median contract rent for Staten Island renter households was $1,569 in 2024, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board.
How much do you need to make to live on Staten Island?
Using the common 40× rent rule, renting at the middle Staten Island ZIP code’s typical asking rent of $2,549 takes an annual income of about $101,960 (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation). Staten Island’s median household income was $98,333 over 2020–2024, according to the New York State Comptroller.
Is the Staten Island Ferry free?
Yes. The Staten Island Ferry between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan is free, according to NYC DOT, which runs it every day of the year. The trip takes about 25 minutes each way. The Staten Island Railway connects to the ferry at St. George and charges the standard $3.00 fare there.
How much is the Verrazzano Bridge toll for Staten Island residents?
Registered Staten Island residents with a New York E-ZPass pay an effective $2.75 per car crossing through the MTA’s Staten Island Resident Rebate Program, as of January 4, 2026. Without the rebate the resident E-ZPass rate is $4.19. Other drivers pay $7.46 with a New York E-ZPass or $12.03 by mail (MTA).
Related: NYC cost by borough · NYC rent by ZIP code · MTA fares · NYC utility bills · How much you need to make · NYC cost index
Sources
- Zillow Research, Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), ZIP codes, all homes plus multifamily, smoothed (data through Sept 2026) (file published Oct 16, 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)
- NYC Independent Budget Office, Segments of the Rent Stabilized Housing Stock (May 2026)
- NYC Department of Transportation, Staten Island Ferry (free service between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan) (2026)
- NYC Department of Transportation, Staten Island Ferry schedule (free; about 25 minutes each way) (2026)
- MTA, Staten Island Railway timetable and fare information (2020 timetable)
- NYC 311, MTA fares: subways, local buses and Staten Island Railway (2026)
- MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Tolls by vehicle type (effective Jan 4, 2026), including the Staten Island Resident Rebate Program (Jan 4, 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)
- National Grid, Downstate New York gas rate plan approved by the NYS Public Service Commission (April 2024 – March 2027) (approved Aug 15, 2024)