State College, PA vs Harrisburg, PA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Harrisburg, PA is 2.0% more expensive than State College, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in State College works out to about $76,500 in Harrisburg, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 12.4% more in Harrisburg. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,481 a month in Harrisburg and $1,947 in State College, $5,592 a year less in Harrisburg (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $307,000 in Harrisburg and $352,000 in State College.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Harrisburg was 0.2% less expensive than State College.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 12.4% higher in Harrisburg than in State College
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
All items State College, PA: 96.8 Harrisburg, PA: 98.7
Goods State College, PA: 100.7 Harrisburg, PA: 100.7
Housing (rents) State College, PA: 85.7 Harrisburg, PA: 96.3
Utilities State College, PA: 109.5 Harrisburg, PA: 108.1
Other services State College, PA: 97.7 Harrisburg, PA: 97.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.8 | 98.7 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 85.7 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 109.5 | 108.1 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Category | State College | Harrisburg | Harrisburg vs State College |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.8 | 98.7 | +2.0% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 85.7 | 96.3 | +12.4% |
| Utilities | 109.5 | 108.1 | −1.3% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,947 | $1,481 | −23.9% |
| Typical home value | $352,000 | $307,000 | −12.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in State College | $75,000 | $76,500 | +2.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between State College and Harrisburg has widened since 2008: 0.2 points then, 1.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| 2010 | 99.2 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 97.6 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 99.0 | 98.9 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 101.4 | 98.2 |
| 2017 | 102.0 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| 2020 | 98.0 | 96.1 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 97.3 |
| 2022 | 96.5 | 95.9 |
| 2023 | 93.7 | 97.0 |
| 2024 | 96.8 | 98.7 |
Goods
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2015 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
Housing (rents)
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.8 | 84.9 |
| 2009 | 85.5 | 87.3 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 90.5 |
| 2011 | 95.5 | 90.1 |
| 2012 | 88.2 | 87.7 |
| 2013 | 93.9 | 91.1 |
| 2014 | 92.4 | 81.9 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 89.8 |
| 2016 | 108.3 | 86.0 |
| 2017 | 104.6 | 87.0 |
| 2018 | 91.3 | 88.8 |
| 2019 | 88.4 | 85.6 |
| 2020 | 92.3 | 80.0 |
| 2021 | 81.5 | 90.4 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 87.2 |
| 2023 | 72.5 | 85.7 |
| 2024 | 85.7 | 96.3 |
Utilities
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.6 | 111.2 |
| 2009 | 114.7 | 114.4 |
| 2010 | 109.9 | 109.7 |
| 2011 | 112.2 | 112.2 |
| 2012 | 105.9 | 105.9 |
| 2013 | 105.4 | 105.3 |
| 2014 | 104.4 | 104.4 |
| 2015 | 103.8 | 104.0 |
| 2016 | 107.3 | 107.5 |
| 2017 | 111.2 | 111.7 |
| 2018 | 114.8 | 114.0 |
| 2019 | 114.8 | 115.2 |
| 2020 | 110.8 | 111.3 |
| 2021 | 109.8 | 110.2 |
| 2022 | 110.5 | 111.0 |
| 2023 | 118.3 | 118.2 |
| 2024 | 109.5 | 108.1 |
Other services
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,481 in Harrisburg vs $1,947 in State College
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $873 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $873 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $878 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $879 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $886 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $904 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $903 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $899 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $915 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $927 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $920 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $927 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $937 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $959 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $961 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $978 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,388 | $985 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,381 | $999 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,402 | $1,006 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,414 | $995 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,435 | $1,030 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,438 | $1,043 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,413 | $1,058 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,428 | $1,086 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,460 | $1,095 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,503 | $1,145 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,516 | $1,195 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,560 | $1,218 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,546 | $1,233 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,617 | $1,278 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,626 | $1,288 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,617 | $1,280 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,684 | $1,305 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,715 | $1,334 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,718 | $1,351 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,742 | $1,344 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,734 | $1,346 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,777 | $1,374 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,800 | $1,385 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,775 | $1,393 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,823 | $1,405 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,838 | $1,418 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,908 | $1,441 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,870 | $1,435 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,910 | $1,451 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,930 | $1,460 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,947 | $1,481 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $307,000 in Harrisburg vs $352,000 in State College
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- State College, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| State College, PA | Harrisburg, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $208K | $171K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $211K | $172K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $213K | $173K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $214K | $174K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $216K | $176K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $217K | $177K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $219K | $178K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $221K | $180K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $223K | $181K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $228K | $182K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $230K | $183K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $230K | $185K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $233K | $186K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $237K | $188K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $241K | $189K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $243K | $189K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $247K | $192K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $251K | $194K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $255K | $196K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $259K | $199K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $260K | $202K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $263K | $204K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $269K | $208K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $276K | $216K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $281K | $223K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $289K | $232K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $291K | $234K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $291K | $236K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $301K | $247K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $310K | $258K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $309K | $260K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $311K | $262K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $315K | $265K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $321K | $271K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $324K | $276K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $326K | $277K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $329K | $281K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $330K | $285K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $331K | $287K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $336K | $290K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $340K | $293K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $340K | $295K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $343K | $299K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $344K | $301K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $347K | $303K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $349K | $305K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $352K | $307K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.