Chester, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Chester, PA Summary
Cost of living in Chester research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Chester is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Chester is 89, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Chester is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Chester ranks as the #50 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Chester ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Chester is $100,059.
The median income in Chester is $39,809.
Table Of Contents
Chester's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Chester, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chester has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Chester has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Chester ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Chester ranks as the #205 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Chester, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Chester Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chester. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chester is 107.
The Groceries index in Chester is 108.
The Health index in Chester is 107.
The Housing index in Chester is 55.
The Transportation index in Chester is 106.
The Utilities index in Chester is 92.
| Living Expense | Chester | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 97 | 100 | |
| Services | 107 | 100 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 108 | 100 | 100 | |
| Health | 107 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 55 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 106 | 107 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 92 | 108 | 100 | |
Chester, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chester is $100,059.
The Median Rent in Chester is $1,080.
The Median Income in Chester is $39,809.
The Home Value To Income in Chester is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chester is 0.33x.
| Statistic | Chester | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $100,059 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,080 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $39,809 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.33x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Chester, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Chester Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.71 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.5 | $18.0 |
| Haircut | $30.14 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $47.42 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chester Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.73 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.52 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.81 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.4 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.33 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chester Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.67 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $149.53 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $132.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chester Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.5 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $74.86 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chester Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Chester | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $173.73 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.79 | $192.25 |
Chester SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chester
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chester. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ardmore, PA has a cost of living index of 124, 1.4x Chester.
Woodlyn, PA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.2x Chester.
Ashland, NJ has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore, PA | 14,165 | 124 | 1.4x |
| Woodlyn, PA | 10,276 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Ashland, NJ | 9,437 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Conshohocken, PA | 9,235 | 128 | 1.4x |
| Audubon, PA | 9,014 | 129 | 1.4x |
| Village Green-Green Ridge, PA | 8,725 | 114 | 1.3x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,298 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Brookhaven, PA | 8,288 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Haddon Heights, NJ | 7,488 | 114 | 1.3x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,245 | 108 | 1.2x |
