What is the cost of living in Altoona, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Altoona has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Altoona has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Altoona ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Altoona ranks as the #199 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Altoona, check out:
Altoona Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Altoona. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Altoona is 99.
The Groceries index in Altoona is 96.
The Health index in Altoona is 59.
The Housing index in Altoona is 103.
The Transportation index in Altoona is 100.
The Utilities index in Altoona is 100.
| Living Expense | Altoona | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Altoona Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Altoona, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Altoona is $134,583.
The Median Rent in Altoona is $819.
The Median Income in Altoona is $51,250.
The Home Value To Income in Altoona is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Altoona is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Altoona | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $134,583 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $819 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,250 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Altoona, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Altoona Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Altoona Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Altoona Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Altoona Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Altoona Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Altoona SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Altoona
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Altoona. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
State College, PA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.3x Altoona.
Indiana, PA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Altoona.
DuBois, PA has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Altoona.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Altoona |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 41,050 | 120 | 1.3x |
| Indiana, PA | 14,212 | 91 | 1.0x |
| DuBois, PA | 7,402 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Huntingdon, PA | 6,897 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Bellefonte, PA | 6,009 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Hollidaysburg, PA | 5,558 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Tyrone, PA | 5,377 | 88 | 1.0x |
