Live like royalty in the borough that has some of the best cuisine, entertainment, and attractions in the city. Queens is a sprawling New York City borough, covering 109 square miles — the most land of all the city’s boroughs.
If you’re looking for a borough where you can get a little more bang for your buck, Queens has a much lower cost of living compared to Manhattan — by more than 56 percent. Groceries, entertainment, and even transportation costs are lower in Queens, making it an attractive borough for those who want to enjoy everything New York City has to offer, but at a lower price tag.
Like most of NYC, getting around Queens is a breeze. There are more than 80 rail stations, and the borough is extremely walkable and bike-friendly. It’s also home to John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. For those with cars, Queens provides easy access to I-678, I-495, and I-295.
When you live in Queens, you aren’t in a concrete jungle. To the contrary, you’ll enjoy sprawling parks and gardens, zoos, and other green spaces. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is a beautiful destination, and so is Queens Botanical Garden. Other great destinations include the Queens Zoo, the New York Hall of Science, Resorts World Casino, Queens Museum, and the Unisphere.
A view of Queens from the East River
The Roosevelt Island Bridge connects Queens to Manhattan
The legendary Gantry State Park
The Sohmer and Co. Piano Factory, built in 1886, is a historic landmark
As of September 2025, the average apartment rent in Queens, NY is $2,910 for a studio, $3,477 for one bedroom, $4,662 for two bedrooms, and $6,260 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Queens has increased by 2.6% in the past year.
The cost of living in Queens, NY is 50.6% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Queens is 149.3% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,910 - $6,260. You can expect to pay 12.1% more for groceries, 15.6% more for utilities, and 5.8% more for transportation.
Thinking about moving to Queens? Here are some pros and cons of living in Queens to help you decide.
Find your ideal NYC borough! Compare Manhattan's energy, Brooklyn's vibe, and more to decide the best spot for your next apartment.
Exploring your options in the Big Apple? Discover the best parts of New York City with our detailed guide.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Excellent Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You’ll have excellent transit living in this area, with several nearby transit stops.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Public
Grades PK-5
715 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
585 Students
The Active Learning Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-3
438 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
380 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
358 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,183 Students
Baccalaureate School for Global Education
Public
Grades 7-12
527 Students
Public
Grades 6-9
1,542 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,476 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
1,155 Students
Bard High School Early College Queens
Public
Grades 9-12
671 Students
Queens High School For The Sciences At York College
Public
Grades 9-12
520 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,322 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
1,183 Students
Frank Sinatra School Of The Arts High School
Public
Grades 9-12
839 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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152
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14,652
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71
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3,390
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870
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236
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159
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50,595
Units
104
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27
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4,820
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22
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10
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14,332
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6
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.
