Cost of living in Pennsylvania
Prices in Pennsylvania are 2.4% below the US average (24th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,303 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6%.
Price levels in Pennsylvania
| BEA RPP 2024 | Pennsylvania | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | −2.4% |
| Goods | 99.4 | −0.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 85.1 | −14.9% |
| Utilities | 109.3 | +9.3% |
| Other services | 99.8 | −0.2% |
Metros in Pennsylvania
Metros whose principal city is in Pennsylvania. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,329,118 | 102.6 | $1,860 | $235 (2020) | $668 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 2,421,992 | 94.7 | $1,389 | $218 (2020) | $1,256 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 887,615 | 100.0 | $1,839 | $190 (2020) | $884 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 617,427 | 98.7 | $1,598 | $228 (2020) | $1,117 |
| Scranton, PA | 574,418 | 93.6 | $1,363 | $214 (2020) | $1,296 |
| Lancaster, PA | 563,159 | 98.3 | $1,553 | $270 (2020) | $1,146 |
| York, PA | 473,197 | 96.0 | $1,327 | $201 (2020) | $1,360 |
| Reading, PA | 440,072 | 97.1 | $1,418 | $215 (2020) | $1,288 |
| Erie, PA | 265,832 | 91.0 | $1,091 | $200 (2020) | $1,551 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 160,652 | 94.6 | $1,325 | $165 (2020) | $1,331 |
| State College, PA | 157,393 | 96.8 | $1,537 | $240 (2020) | $1,120 |
| Lebanon, PA | 146,380 | 93.2 | $1,353 | $187 (2020) | $1,331 |
| Johnstown, PA | 128,968 | 85.9 | $1,014 | $131 (2020) | $1,565 |
| Altoona, PA | 119,541 | 89.5 | $1,151 | $155 (2020) | $1,443 |
| Williamsport, PA | 112,587 | 92.3 | $1,217 | $162 (2020) | $1,397 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 107,594 | 95.4 | $1,354 | $213 (2020) | $1,339 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Pennsylvania (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Pennsylvania income tax | $1,535 | $2,303 | $3,684 | $3,684 |
| Pennsylvania payroll taxes | $35 | $53 | $84 | $84 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,399 | $4,936 | $7,457 | $8,451 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Pennsylvania’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,355 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Pennsylvania
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2020) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $185 | $12,453 | $148 |
| Toddler (2) | $178 | $11,948 | $130 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $165 | $11,107 | $130 |
| School-age (5–12) | $153 | $10,299 | $125 |
DOL has no 2022 childcare prices for Pennsylvania; these are the latest published, from 2020.
Center-based infant care ranges from $124 a week in Somerset County to $304 in Chester County (2020 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2020; median across 67 counties with 2020 data. *52 weeks × 1.2945 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2020 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | $332,200 | $6,124 | 1.84% |
| Berks County | $257,300 | $4,239 | 1.65% |
| York County | $248,600 | $4,006 | 1.61% |
| Erie County | $177,000 | $2,830 | 1.60% |
| Lehigh County | $300,400 | $4,651 | 1.55% |
| Washington County | $228,500 | $2,485 | 1.09% |
| Blair County | $161,100 | $1,724 | 1.07% |
| Centre County | $323,500 | $3,386 | 1.05% |
| Butler County | $294,200 | $2,970 | 1.01% |
| Philadelphia County | $243,100 | $2,003 | 0.82% |
Five highest and five lowest of 33 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Pennsylvania
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 234,568 in, 251,701 out (net −17,133).
- New Jersey38,467 ±4,874
- New York29,274 ±4,078
- Florida25,048 ±7,963
- Maryland18,254 ±3,761
- Ohio12,344 ±3,400
- California10,777 ±2,315
- Virginia8,597 ±2,499
- North Carolina7,838 ±2,108
- Florida33,530 ±6,458
- New Jersey25,902 ±3,756
- New York23,152 ±3,265
- Virginia15,246 ±3,605
- North Carolina13,261 ±3,306
- Texas12,979 ±3,357
- Maryland12,638 ±2,389
- Ohio11,009 ±2,338
Frequently asked questions
Is Pennsylvania expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Pennsylvania’s overall price level at 97.6 in 2024 (US = 100), the 24th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 85.1 and goods 99.4.
Does Pennsylvania have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,303 in Pennsylvania income tax under 2026 law (3.1% of pay), plus $53 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Pennsylvania?+
The state rate is 6% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Pennsylvania?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Johnstown, PA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,565), and Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD the least ($668).