St. James, MO vs Taos, MO

St. James, MO and Taos, MO have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.8% difference in their overall index. St. James scores 66 while Taos scores 64 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in St. James is $814/month compared to $425/month in Taos — a 92% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Taos has cheaper rent, St. James actually has lower median home values ($117,200 vs $256,000).

Median household income in St. James is $50,644 compared to $103,594 in Taos (-51.1%). Taos offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of St. James spend roughly 19.3% of their income on rent, more than the 4.9% in Taos.