Potsdam, NY Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Potsdam. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Potsdam compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Potsdam, New York

Cost of living in Potsdam research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Potsdam is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New York, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

93 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#14 Cheapest in New York (of 336)
#1,516 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$177,295 Median home value
$898 Median rent
$34,546 Median income
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What is the cost of living in Potsdam, NY?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Potsdam has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to New York, Potsdam has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.

The standard of living in Potsdam ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Potsdam ranks as the #322 most expensive place in the Empire State.

For more reading on life in Potsdam, check out:

Potsdam Cost Of Living Vs. New York

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Potsdam. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Potsdam is 105.

  • The Groceries index in Potsdam is 106.

  • The Health index in Potsdam is 64.

  • The Housing index in Potsdam is 106.

  • The Transportation index in Potsdam is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Potsdam is 106.

Living Expense Potsdam New York National Average
Overall 93 121 100
Services 105 105 100
Groceries 106 108 100
Health 64 143 100
Housing 106 112 100
Transportation 106 114 100
Utilities 106 111 100

Potsdam Cost Of Living Compared To New York Averages

Services
Potsdam 105
New York avg 105
Groceries
Potsdam 106
New York avg 108
Health
Potsdam 64
New York avg 143
Housing
Potsdam 106
New York avg 112
Transportation
Potsdam 106
New York avg 114
Utilities
Potsdam 106
New York avg 111

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Potsdam, NY Housing Cost Breakdown

$177,295Median Home Value
$898Median Rent
$34,546Median Income

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Potsdam is $177,295.

  • The Median Rent in Potsdam is $898.

  • The Median Income in Potsdam is $34,546.

  • The Home Value To Income in Potsdam is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Potsdam is 0.31x.

Statistic Potsdam New York United States
Median Home Value $177,295 $507,794 $332,700
Median Rent $898 $1,621 $1,413
Median Income $34,546 $85,974 $80,734
Home Value To Income 5.1x 5.9x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.31x 0.23x 0.21x

Potsdam, NY Costs By Category

Detailed Potsdam Services costs vs. New York
Item Potsdam New York
Shampoo $1.23 $1.28
Movie $11.94 $12.13
Bowling $15.67 $18
Haircut $26.98 $24.26
Beauty Salon $46.44 $45.56
Detailed Potsdam Groceries costs vs. New York
Item Potsdam New York
Ground Beef $5.76 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.72 $1.57
Milk $4.82 $4.67
Potatoes $4.97 $4.93
Pizza $12.05 $12.09
Beer $10.01 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.73 $3.7
Detailed Potsdam Health costs vs. New York
Item Potsdam New York
Optometrist $141.67 $125.68
Doctor $152.78 $135.78
Dentist $130.83 $113.29
Detailed Potsdam Transportation costs vs. New York
Item Potsdam New York
Gasoline $3.59 $3.46
Tire Balancing $68.6 $59.92
Detailed Potsdam Utilities costs vs. New York
Item Potsdam New York
All Electricity $262.67 $193.99
Phone $186.03 $192.25

Potsdam SnackAbility

6Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 3/10
Housing 5/10
Affordability 3/10
Diversity 8/10
SafetyN/A
Amenities 8.5/10
Education 8/10
Commute 10/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Potsdam

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Potsdam. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Morristown, TN has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Potsdam.

  • Massena, NY has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Potsdam.

  • Ogdensburg, NY has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Potsdam.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Potsdam
Morristown, TN 31,527 91 1.0x
Massena, NY 10,238 90 1.0x
Ogdensburg, NY 9,455 92 1.0x
Canton, NY 7,167 97 1.0x
Malone, NY 5,429 92 1.0x