Cost of living in Pennsylvania
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.
Pennsylvania cities we cover
Pennsylvania next to New York and the US
- Everyday prices2% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
- Housing, rent included15% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
- 2-bedroom rent$1,353/mo13% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
- Typical home for sale$309,00026% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $1,698/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.
How affordable is Pennsylvania?
Are people moving to Pennsylvania?
- 2019-20-20,854
- 2020-21+28,598
- 2021-22-40,586
- 2022-23-24,570
- 2023-24-11,252
- 2024-25-2,936
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
- 1Pittsburgh, PA5% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,185
- Typical home
- $245,000
- Mortgage
- $1,346/mo
- 2Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA1% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,360
- Typical home
- $326,859
- Mortgage
- $1,796/mo
- 3Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJAbout the US average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,633
- Typical home
- $412,225
- Mortgage
- $2,265/mo
- 4Philadelphia, PA3% pricier than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,723
- Typical home
- $374,950
- Mortgage
- $2,061/mo
Pennsylvania next to its neighbors
- 9West Virginia11% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $909
- Typical home
- $259,997
- Net moves
- +6,408
- 17Ohio7% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,190
- Typical home
- $284,000
- Net moves
- +11,926
- 28PennsylvaniaThis state2% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,353
- Typical home
- $309,000
- Net moves
- -2,936
- 32DelawareAbout the US average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,632
- Typical home
- $484,998
- Net moves
- +6,855
Pennsylvania by the numbers
Every figure on this page, as tables
Pennsylvania next to New York and the US
| Place | Price level | Housing | Typical home | Monthly payment | 2-bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | 85.1 | $309,000 | $1,698 | $1,353 |
| United States | 100.0 | 100.0 | $419,250 | $2,304 | $1,563 |
| New York metro | 112.6 | 148.6 | $742,000 | $4,078 | $1,997 |
Pennsylvania cities we cover
| City | Typical home | Monthly payment | 2-bedroom rent | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $245,000 | $1,346 | $1,185 | 94.7 |
| Philadelphia | $374,950 | $2,061 | $1,723 | 102.6 |
Metro areas in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Price level | 2-bedroom rent | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,185 | $245,000 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 98.7 | $1,360 | $326,859 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 100.0 | $1,633 | $412,225 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 102.6 | $1,723 | $374,950 |
Pennsylvania next to its neighbors
| State | Price level | 2-bedroom rent | Typical home | Net moves from other states |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | $1,353 | $309,000 | -2,936 |
| Delaware | 99.8 | $1,632 | $484,998 | +6,855 |
| Maryland | 105.0 | $1,834 | $425,000 | -12,127 |
| New Jersey | 108.8 | $1,990 | $559,500 | -37,428 |
| New York | 107.9 | $1,729 | $605,000 | -137,586 |
| Ohio | 92.8 | $1,190 | $284,000 | +11,926 |
| West Virginia | 89.5 | $909 | $259,997 | +6,408 |
Net moves from other states
| Year (July to July) | Net moves from other states |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | -20,854 |
| 2020-21 | +28,598 |
| 2021-22 | -40,586 |
| 2022-23 | -24,570 |
| 2023-24 | -11,252 |
| 2024-25 | -2,936 |
States with a similar cost of living to Pennsylvania
Keep comparing
Pennsylvania cost of living: questions people ask
What is the cost of living in Pennsylvania?
Everyday prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the US average, the 28th lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 85.1 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $309,000 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $1,698 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,353 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $130,023 in Pennsylvania.
Is Pennsylvania cheap or expensive to live in?
Cheaper than average. Pennsylvania's regional price parity is 97.6, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 2.4% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).
How much does a house cost in Pennsylvania?
The median listed home in Pennsylvania is $309,000 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 12th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $1,698 a month.
How much is rent in Pennsylvania?
The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Pennsylvania is $1,353 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).
What salary in Pennsylvania equals $150,000 in New York?
About $130,023, using BEA regional price parities for Pennsylvania (97.6) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.
Are people moving to Pennsylvania?
2,936 more people left Pennsylvania for other states than arrived between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).
Which Pennsylvania cities do you cover?
Pittsburgh ($245,000), Philadelphia ($374,950). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.
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Notes on the numbers
- 1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
- 2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
- 3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
- 4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
- 5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
- 6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.
Sources for this page
- Price level: BEA via FRED PARPPALL, 2024
- Housing: BEA via FRED PARPPSERVERENT, 2024
- Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRIPA, September 2026
- Household income: Census via FRED MEHOINUSPAA646N, 2025
- US median listing: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRIUS, September 2026
- Net domestic migration 2024-25: https://planning.maryland.gov/MSDC/Documents/pop_estimate/estimates-post2010/table6.pdf (Census Vintage 2025 estimates via Maryland Dept of Planning Table 6; 2024-25 cross-checked vs https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/census/popestimate/2025/state-pop/NST-EST2025-COMP.pdf)
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026
- 2-bedroom rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities)
- New York metro: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRI35620; BEA via FRED RPPALL35620, 2024
- © Realtor.com, Housing Inventory Core Metrics (median listing price and median listing price per square foot), retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis