Penn Yan, NY vs St. James, NY

The cost of living difference between Penn Yan, NY and St. James, NY is dramatic. Penn Yan is 56.5% cheaper than St. James, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Penn Yan has a cost index of 69 while St. James sits at 158, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Penn Yan is $680/month compared to $2,192/month in St. James — a 69% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Penn Yan is more affordable at $143,000 median vs $632,900.

Median household income in Penn Yan is $51,466 compared to $130,556 in St. James (-60.6%). While St. James is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Penn Yan spend roughly 15.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20.1% in St. James.

Climate-wise, St. James is notably warmer with an average of 53.1°F compared to 48.7°F in Penn Yan. St. James receives more rainfall at 46" per year compared to 30.2" in Penn Yan.