Long Beach, NY vs St. James, NY

St. James is moderately more affordable than Long Beach, with a 5% lower cost of living index. Long Beach scores 166 compared to 158 for St. James, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Long Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Long Beach is $2,377/month compared to $2,192/month in St. James — a 8% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. James is more affordable at $632,900 median vs $661,500.

Median household income in Long Beach is $130,795 compared to $130,556 in St. James (+0.2%). Long Beach does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Long Beach spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, more than the 20.1% in St. James.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (54.3°F vs 53.1°F). St. James receives more rainfall at 46" per year compared to 43.3" in Long Beach.