USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Pennsylvania

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 97.6 2.4% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 24th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 85.1 27th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $58,620 24th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Pennsylvania are 2.4% below the national average, the 24th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in Pennsylvania differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 14.9% below the US average, while goods are about average and other services about average.
  • Within Pennsylvania, metro price levels run from 85.9 in Johnstown, PA to 102.6 in Philadelphia, PA (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,620 in 2017 dollars, 24th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Pennsylvania has barely moved: 99.2 in 2008, 98.0 in 2019 and 97.6 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Pennsylvania, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 14.9% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
97.6
Goods
99.4
Housing (rents)
85.1
Utilities
109.3
Other services
99.8

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
All items97.6
Goods99.4
Housing (rents)85.1
Utilities109.3
Other services99.8

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $4.31 a gallon in the Central Atlantic region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.03 more than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Pennsylvania, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Pennsylvania

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 16 metro areas BEA measures in Pennsylvania are Johnstown, PA (85.9), Altoona, PA (89.5) and Erie, PA (91.0); the most expensive is Philadelphia, PA (102.6). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Johnstown, PA is the cheapest metro area in Pennsylvania (85.9); Philadelphia, PA the most expensive (102.6)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Johnstown, PA
85.9
Altoona, PA
89.5
Erie, PA
91.0
Williamsport, PA
92.4
Lebanon, PA
93.2
Scranton, PA
93.6
Chambersburg, PA
94.6
Pittsburgh, PA
94.7
Gettysburg, PA
95.4
York, PA
96.0
State College, PA
96.8
Reading, PA
97.1
Lancaster, PA
98.3
Harrisburg, PA
98.7
Allentown, PA Spans PA, NJ
100.0
Philadelphia, PA Spans PA, NJ, DE, MD
102.6

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Johnstown, PA85.9
Altoona, PA89.5
Erie, PA91.0
Williamsport, PA92.4
Lebanon, PA93.2
Scranton, PA93.6
Chambersburg, PA94.6
Pittsburgh, PA94.7
Gettysburg, PA95.4
York, PA96.0
State College, PA96.8
Reading, PA97.1
Lancaster, PA98.3
Harrisburg, PA98.7
Allentown, PA100.0
Philadelphia, PA102.6
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Johnstown, PA 85.9 42.3 100.7 108.9 97.7 $886
Altoona, PA 89.5 55.0 100.7 107.7 97.7 $1,004
Erie, PA 91.0 56.8 100.7 106.8 97.7 $1,126
Williamsport, PA 92.4 64.4 100.7 107.5 97.7 $1,087
Lebanon, PA 93.2 66.0 100.7 108.4 97.7 $1,454
Scranton, PA 93.6 67.0 100.7 106.5 97.7 $1,362
Chambersburg, PA 94.6 71.9 100.7 108.3 97.7 $1,335
Pittsburgh, PA 94.7 72.0 100.7 107.7 97.7 $1,467
Gettysburg, PA 95.4 73.9 100.7 107.0 97.7 $1,373
York, PA 96.0 79.8 100.7 107.0 97.7 $1,380
State College, PA 96.8 85.7 100.7 109.5 97.7 $1,947
Reading, PA 97.1 85.4 100.7 108.2 97.7 $1,551
Lancaster, PA 98.3 93.8 100.7 107.3 97.7 $1,575
Harrisburg, PA 98.7 96.3 100.7 108.1 97.7 $1,481
Allentown, PA 100.0 105.5 100.6 107.6 97.8 $1,841
Philadelphia, PA 102.6 113.1 96.8 114.4 103.1 $1,903

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Pennsylvania has become less expensive relative to the US since 2008: 99.2 then, 97.6 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
200899.2
200999.5
201098.9
201198.4
201298.0
201397.8
201497.2
201598.1
201697.8
201799.1
201898.2
201998.0
202097.7
202196.1
202296.3
202397.4
202497.6

Goods: 101.8 in 2008, 99.4 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
2008101.8
2009101.7
201099.9
2011100.4
201299.7
201398.2
201498.4
2015100.5
2016100.3
201799.9
201899.7
201997.1
202097.4
202195.3
202296.9
202398.4
202499.4

Housing (rents): 86.6 in 2008, 85.1 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
200886.6
200986.8
201088.5
201188.7
201288.1
201389.0
201488.7
201588.9
201687.9
201787.9
201887.7
201986.5
202086.8
202186.7
202286.4
202385.8
202485.1

Utilities: 109.0 in 2008, 109.3 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
2008109.0
2009111.9
2010110.3
2011113.7
2012110.1
2013110.4
2014102.3
2015103.6
2016105.3
2017108.4
2018111.4
2019112.6
2020109.0
2021106.1
2022109.8
2023118.3
2024109.3

Other services: 100.8 in 2008, 99.8 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Pennsylvania
2008100.8
2009101.4
2010101.0
201199.4
201299.3
201399.6
201498.7
201599.2
201698.8
2017101.5
201899.6
2019101.2
2020101.1
202199.2
202298.2
202399.4
202499.8

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Pennsylvania is $58,620, 24th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Pennsylvania
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
PennsylvaniaUnited States
2008$46,939$45,816
2009$45,776$44,204
2010$47,072$44,808
2011$48,362$45,957
2012$49,325$46,796
2013$49,047$46,358
2014$50,343$47,661
2015$51,702$49,396
2016$52,744$49,828
2017$52,479$51,006
2018$54,492$52,242
2019$55,458$53,683
2020$59,098$56,514
2021$61,217$59,365
2022$58,304$57,104
2023$58,027$58,088
2024$58,620$59,195

Compare Pennsylvania with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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