Cost of living in State College, PA
157,393 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 3.2% below the US average, with housing at 85.7 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,120 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in State College, PA
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2020 childcare prices for Centre County, PA in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $74,291 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,191 |
| Taxes | $958 | $1,542 | $681 |
| Take-home pay | $4,042 | $7,624 | $5,510 |
| Housing | $1,282 | $1,537 | $1,537 |
| Childcare | $0 | $1,354 | $2,120 |
| Food | $444 | $995 | $1,291 |
| Transportation | $175 | $349 | $349 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $992 | $992 |
| Left over | $1,120 | $2,367 | −$810 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($74,291). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: State College, PA vs Pennsylvania and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Pennsylvania statewide (light).
Within Pennsylvania, State College, PA ranks 6th of 16 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 97.6. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,274 | $50,960 | 20.6% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,282 | $51,280 | 20.7% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,537 | $61,480 | 24.8% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,977 | $79,080 | 31.9% |
| 4-bedroom | $2,020 | $80,800 | 32.6% |
FY2027 FMRs for State College, PA MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,207 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Centre County, PA
DOL has no 2022 price for Centre County, PA; these are the latest published prices, from 2020, adjusted to current dollars with the BLS CPI change since 2020.
| Age band | Center, weekly (2020) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2020) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $240 | $16,145 | $120 | $8,078 |
| Toddler (2) | $241 | $16,243 | $115 | $7,741 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $225 | $15,146 | $110 | $7,405 |
| School-age (5–12) | $153 | $10,299 | $110 | $7,405 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2020 county medians for full-time care in Centre County, PA (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2945, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2020 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in State College
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Pennsylvania income tax | $1,535 | $2,303 | $3,684 |
| Pennsylvania payroll taxes | $35 | $53 | $84 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,399 | $4,936 | $7,457 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.4% | 21.0% | 25.4% |
Pennsylvania municipalities and school districts levy a local Earned Income Tax (rates vary by municipality); it is not included here. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in State College, PA
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | — | 96.8 | $1,537 | $1,120 |
| Altoona, PA · compare | 35 mi | 89.5 | $1,151 | $1,443 (+$323) |
| Williamsport, PA · compare | 53 mi | 92.3 | $1,217 | $1,397 (+$277) |
| Chambersburg, PA · compare | 60 mi | 94.6 | $1,325 | $1,331 (+$211) |
| Harrisburg, PA · compare | 62 mi | 98.7 | $1,598 | $1,117 (−$3) |
| Johnstown, PA · compare | 64 mi | 85.9 | $1,014 | $1,565 (+$445) |
| Gettysburg, PA · compare | 74 mi | 95.4 | $1,354 | $1,339 (+$219) |
Common moves to and from State College, PA
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
Frequently asked questions
Is State College, PA expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the State College, PA metro at 96.8 (US = 100) in 2024 — 3.2% below the national average and the 134th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 85.7, goods 100.7.
What salary do you need to live in State College, PA?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,042 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,120 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in State College, PA?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,282 for a 1-bedroom and $1,537 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,207.
Does State College have a local income tax?+
Pennsylvania municipalities and school districts levy a local Earned Income Tax (rates vary by municipality); it is not included here.