Johnstown, PA vs Elmira, NY: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Elmira, NY has a modeled overall cost index 3.5% higher than Johnstown, PA.

Johnstown, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,015 / month
Elmira, NY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,260 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Johnstown, PA and Elmira, NY using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $364/month in Elmira, NY

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,366 in Elmira, NY

Regional cost estimates: Johnstown, PA uses Pittsburgh, PA. Elmira, NY uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.5%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$364
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Johnstown, PA

Population:18K
Cost Index:
85.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$80K

Elmira, NY

Population:26K
Cost Index:
88.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$99K

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Johnstown, PA

The Keystone State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 18K residents.

Elmira, NY

The Empire State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Johnstown, PA vs Elmira, NY

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Transportation
↑ 12.1%
Johnstown, PA
$1,353
Elmira, NY
$1,516
Difference
$164
more
Other
↑ 7.5%
Johnstown, PA
$1,788
Elmira, NY
$1,921
Difference
$134
more
Healthcare
↑ 20.6%
Johnstown, PA
$598
Elmira, NY
$721
Difference
$123
more
All Utilities
↓ 9.3%
Johnstown, PA
$688
Elmira, NY
$624
Difference
$64.16
less
Groceries
↑ 2.6%
Johnstown, PA
$1,122
Elmira, NY
$1,152
Difference
$29.18
more
Housing
↓ 1.1%
Johnstown, PA
$1,952
Elmira, NY
$1,930
Difference
$21.29
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$825
To$930
↑ $105
1 Bed
From$830
To$960
↑ $130
2 Bed
From$1,015
To$1,260
↑ $245
3 Bed
From$1,405
To$1,580
↑ $175
Johnstown, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$960/mo

Elmira, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$1,040/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Johnstown, PA
$7,864
Monthly in Elmira, NY
$364
Difference

Home Values

Johnstown
Elmira
$80K
Median Value
$99K
↓ -7%
YoY Change
↓ -3.9%
↓ -6.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.8%
$42K - $162K
Price Range
$95K - $165K

Homes in Elmira are 23% more expensive than Johnstown

Calculate payment - JohnstownCalculate payment - Elmira

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $4.9K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$412
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.3%
Rate difference

Johnstown, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Elmira, NY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New York State Tax
Effective: 6.4%
$9.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.0%
$46.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,620/month
$103.4K

Additional Tax Information

Johnstown, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Elmira, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:1.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Johnstown
Elmira
52 Moderate
Air Quality
N/A
47.8%
Good Air Days
-
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
15 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
15 days

Before moving from Johnstown, PA to Elmira, NY

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Elmira, NY for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Johnstown, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Johnstown to Elmira moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Elmira, NY by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Johnstown, PA vs Elmira, NY

How do the cost estimates for Johnstown, PA and Elmira, NY compare?

Elmira, NY has a modeled overall cost index 3.5% higher than Johnstown, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Johnstown, PA, the model estimates $154,366 in Elmira, NY. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Johnstown, PA and Elmira, NY?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,015/month in Johnstown, PA and $1,260/month in Elmira, NY. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Pennsylvania and New York on TaxTakeHome.com

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