By Jamie Cattanach

(Last Updated – 03/2025)

It’s not called the Keystone State for nothing: In the realm of U.S. history, Pennsylvania is one of the most important states in the country. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written here. Philadelphia was once the nation’s capital.

Fast-forward a couple of centuries and Pennsylvania still has plenty of appeal, with a population of more than 12.9 million. But how much does it cost to live in the land of to-die-for cheesesteaks and rolling green hillsides? Let’s take a closer look.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Pennsylvania?

Average Cost of Living in Pennsylvania: $49,040 per year

When states are ranked by their cost of living, Pennsylvania is about midway down. According to the 2024 MERIC cost of living index, Pennsylvania is in 24th position, meaning it’s just slightly more expensive than Minnesota and slightly less expensive than Wyoming.

If you’re looking to live affordably in the Northeast, though, Pennsylvania may just be your best bet. MERIC data has neighboring New York at 47th on the list, and New Jersey, in 45th place, isn’t doing a whole lot better.

But what does that look like in practice?

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total personal expenditure in Pennsylvania is $57,009 on average, broken down as follows:

Next, we’ll look into the specifics of each of those categories.

Housing Costs in Pennsylvania

Average Housing Costs in Pennsylvania: $988 to $1,722 per month

When it comes to the cost of keeping a roof over your head, Pennsylvania is doing pretty well compared to nationwide prices. According to Zillow, the average home value in the commonwealth was $266,551 in March 2025, while the U.S. average home value was $357,138.

Of course, how much you pay for housing monthly will depend on what kind of housing you need — and where.

Here are the most recent Census figures on the state’s median monthly mortgage cost and rents. Following that, there’s a rundown of Zillow’s average home values by major metro, sorted from least to most expensive.

•   Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,722

•   Median studio rent: $988

•   Median one-bedroom rent: $1,025

•   Median two-bedroom rent: $1,226

•   Median three-bedroom rent: $1,352

•   Median four-bedroom rent: $1,493

•   Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,435

•   Median gross rent: $1,197

Utility Costs in Pennsylvania

Average Utility Costs in Pennsylvania: $398 per month

Once you’ve got that roof taken care of, you still have to supply the home under it with power, water, possibly natural gas, and definitely cable and internet. (You don’t want to miss that Eagles game!)

Here’s how the average utility bill breaks down in Pennsylvania.

U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Inspirecleanenergy.com; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Pennsylvania: $278 per person, per month

Man (or woman, or child) can’t subsist on cheesesteak alone, tempting though it may be.

So how much does it cost to keep a family in groceries in Pennsylvania?

Above, we mentioned the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s $4,201 estimate for annual per-capita food and beverage expenditures. When you divide that figure by 12 months, you get about $350 per person — or $700 for a couple, or $1,400 for a family of four. (Of course, these numbers are not exact, and don’t account for the fact that children tend to eat less than adults, for example.)

The Council for Community and Economic Research’s 2024 Cost of Living Index provides more data on the cost of food in Pennsylvania. (As always, where you are in the state matters.)

Here’s how the grocery items index stacks up for different Pennsylvania metros, from least to most expensive.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Pennsylvania: $4,470 to $12,675 per year

Even as a greater percentage of us work from home, many more still commute to work every day — not to mention schlepping the kids to and from school, music lessons, or football practice.

While your specific annual transportation costs will vary greatly depending on what your family and situation look like, MIT’s Living Wage Calculator offers some excellent data on the cost of transportation in each state, including Pennsylvania. Here are the latest findings:

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Pennsylvania: $9,609 per year

Pennsylvanians are apt to spend slightly more on health care than housing each year. Health care costs average $9,609 per person, while housing and utilities average $9,146, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

That said, your health care expenditure will vary greatly depending on what kind of health insurance coverage you have and how often you need to seek medical attention. Your costs could be considerably lower — or higher.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Pennsylvania: $904 to $1,437 or more per child, per month

Keeping the kiddos looked after is always a major line item in the monthly budget for parents, and people raising children in Pennsylvania will need to plan carefully to afford those costs.

Although your exact outlay can vary greatly depending on your child care plan, here are some average figures per CostofChildCare.org:

Need help finding the right child care program for your family? The Pennsylvania Department of Education offers a helpful, searchable online database of child care providers.

Taxes

Income Tax Rate in Pennsylvania: 3.07%

We all have federal income taxes to contend with — but your state income tax rate can vary significantly depending on where in the country you are.

Pennsylvania, unlike many other states in the nation, levies a single-rate tax. That means everyone pays the same rate, as long as they’re earning taxable income. According to the Tax Foundation’s 2025 report State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, that rate is 3.07% — which is the fifth-lowest in the nation and lower than the top rates in all the neighboring states.

That said, keep in mind that the Pennsylvania sales tax rate is 6%, with additional percentages added in Allegheny County and Philadelphia.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we’ve covered all the must-haves, let’s talk about fun. How much does it cost to have fun in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvanians spend $32,581 per year on costs other than housing, health care, groceries, and gas, as estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Here’s where some of those funds might be going (costs as of March 2025):

•  A one-day ticket to Hersheypark, the candy-themed amusement destination that draws thousands of visitors to Hershey, Pennsylvania: $89.95 per person (though discounts are regularly available).

•  Admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, chartered all the way back in 1876 and boasting more than 240,000 art objects: $30 per adult, which gets you two days of access to both the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum.

•  A tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous and beautiful Fallingwater, a residential structure situated in the forested countryside southeast of Pittsburgh: $29 per person for a guided grounds tour, or $18 for a self-guided experience (though other, more expensive options are available, some of which include meals).

•  A cheesesteak at Jim’s West, ranked Philly’s best spot for a cheesesteak in January 2025 by Eater: $12.

The good news is, there are plenty of free or nearly free diversions to tackle in Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell is a must-see for any American. It’s open daily to visitors from 9am to 5pm and doesn’t require a ticket. Neither does another Philly attraction, the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site. If you’re looking for a rugged adventure, consider heading west toward Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. This impressive natural landscape is loved by outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes, and there’s no cost to enjoy its bike paths and hiking trails.

Recommended: What Are the Average Monthly Expenses for One Person?

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Pennsylvania?

Definitions of “comfortable” vary, so it’s impossible to say how much money you’d need to earn to feel comfortable in Pennsylvania (or anywhere else, for that matter).

Compared to many other states, though, Pennsylvania might be a relatively easy place to get by on a moderate salary. Case in point: The U.S. News and World Report Affordability Ranking puts it at No. 26, and, as mentioned above, MERIC slots it at 24th in the nation.

But to get by as cheaply as possible in Pennsylvania — or anywhere, for that matter — a lot of it has to do with where you settle.

What Cities Have Low Cost of Living in Pennsylvania?

The 2024 Cost of Living Index, which we used to assess grocery costs, ranks major metros by overall cost of living, too.

Here are three of the least expensive communities in Pennsylvania to live in.