Riviera Beach, MD vs St. James, MD

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. St. James is 18.5% cheaper than Riviera Beach. With a cost index of 103 vs 122, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from St. James to Riviera Beach should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Riviera Beach is $1,945/month compared to $1,252/month in St. James — a 55% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. James has cheaper rent, Riviera Beach actually has lower median home values ($334,000 vs $390,800).

Median household income in Riviera Beach is $110,136 compared to $103,105 in St. James (+6.8%). Riviera 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 Riviera Beach spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, more than the 14.6% in St. James.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.2°F vs 55.4°F). Riviera Beach receives more rainfall at 45" per year compared to 35.6" in St. James.