What is the cost of living in Carlisle, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carlisle has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Carlisle has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Carlisle ranks as #164 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Carlisle ranks as the #89 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Carlisle, check out:
Carlisle Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carlisle. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carlisle is 101.
The Groceries index in Carlisle is 101.
The Health index in Carlisle is 100.
The Housing index in Carlisle is 100.
The Transportation index in Carlisle is 95.
The Utilities index in Carlisle is 98.
| Living Expense | Carlisle | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 100 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Carlisle 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
Carlisle, 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 Carlisle is $329,619.
The Median Rent in Carlisle is $1,094.
The Median Income in Carlisle is $61,720.
The Home Value To Income in Carlisle is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carlisle is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Carlisle | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $329,619 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,094 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,720 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.3x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Carlisle, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Carlisle Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Carlisle | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.52 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.39 | $45.56 |
Detailed Carlisle Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Carlisle | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.65 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.67 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Carlisle Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Carlisle | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carlisle Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Carlisle | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carlisle Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Carlisle | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Carlisle SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carlisle
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carlisle. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Harrisburg, PA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Carlisle.
Mechanicsburg, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Carlisle.
Camp Hill, PA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.0x Carlisle.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg, PA | 50,287 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Mechanicsburg, PA | 9,720 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Camp Hill, PA | 8,169 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Lower Allen, PA | 7,646 | 99 | 1.0x |
| New Cumberland, PA | 7,580 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Enola, PA | 6,534 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Shippensburg, PA | 5,620 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Schlusser, PA | 5,402 | 97 | 1.0x |
