Living Cost Compare

Cost of Living in Pennsylvania

Based on 1 city we track in Pennsylvania.

Cost of living in Pennsylvania is shaped mostly by rent across the 1 city we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $1,189 a month — about the same as the $1,191 median across the 28 states we track.

Median household income across those cities is $60,698, 15% lower than the $71,716 median across the states we track. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

State Medians

Median 1BR Rent
$1,189
Median Home Value
$232,400
Median Income
$60,698
Avg Temperature
57.1°F

Medians across the Pennsylvania cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.

State Taxes

State Sales Tax
6%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 3.07%

Cities in Pennsylvania

Compare Pennsylvania with

ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIllinoisIndianaKentuckyLouisianaMarylandMinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNevadaNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOregonTennesseeTexasVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin

Pennsylvania cost of living — FAQ

Is Pennsylvania expensive to live in?
Pennsylvania is around the middle of the 28 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,189 ranks #15 of 28 and is about the same as the $1,191 median.
What is the average rent in Pennsylvania?
Across the 1 city we track in Pennsylvania, average rent runs a studio around $1,126, a one-bedroom around $1,189, a two-bedroom around $1,394, a three-bedroom around $1,406 per month (US Census ACS).
What is the median home price in Pennsylvania?
The median home value across the cities we track in Pennsylvania is $232,400 — 27% lower than the $317,950 median across the states we track.
Does Pennsylvania have a state income tax?
Yes — Pennsylvania's top state income tax rate is 3.07% (most filers pay less than the top rate). Its state sales tax rate is 6%; local jurisdictions may add more.
How much do you need to earn to live in Pennsylvania?
To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,189 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Pennsylvania is $60,698.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).