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 84, which is 0.8x 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 #17 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Chester ranks as the #236 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Chester, check out:
Chester Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chester. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chester is 102.
The Groceries index in Chester is 98.
The Health index in Chester is 54.
The Housing index in Chester is 95.
The Transportation index in Chester is 97.
The Utilities index in Chester is 100.
| Living Expense | Chester | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 54 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Chester 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chester is $92,319.
The Median Rent in Chester is $1,091.
The Median Income in Chester is $41,342.
The Home Value To Income in Chester is 2.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chester is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Chester | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $92,319 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,091 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,342 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.2x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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 |
| 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
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 127, 1.5x Chester.
Woodlyn, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.2x Chester.
Ashland, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 1.5x Chester.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore, PA | 13,909 | 127 | 1.5x |
| Woodlyn, PA | 9,736 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Ashland, NJ | 9,320 | 122 | 1.5x |
| Conshohocken, PA | 9,282 | 124 | 1.5x |
| Audubon, PA | 9,229 | 122 | 1.5x |
| Village Green-Green Ridge, PA | 9,073 | 111 | 1.3x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,671 | 107 | 1.3x |
| Brookhaven, PA | 8,331 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Haddon Heights, NJ | 7,516 | 121 | 1.4x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,261 | 104 | 1.2x |
