What is the cost of living in Ephrata, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ephrata has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Ephrata has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Ephrata ranks as #108 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Ephrata ranks as the #145 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Ephrata, check out:
Ephrata Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ephrata. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ephrata is 100.
The Groceries index in Ephrata is 98.
The Health index in Ephrata is 89.
The Housing index in Ephrata is 97.
The Transportation index in Ephrata is 102.
The Utilities index in Ephrata is 96.
| Living Expense | Ephrata | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 89 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Ephrata 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
Ephrata, 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 Ephrata is $249,296.
The Median Rent in Ephrata is $1,143.
The Median Income in Ephrata is $69,735.
The Home Value To Income in Ephrata is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ephrata is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Ephrata | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $249,296 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,143 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $69,735 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Ephrata, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Ephrata Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Ephrata | 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 Ephrata Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Ephrata | 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 Ephrata Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Ephrata | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Ephrata Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Ephrata | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed Ephrata Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Ephrata | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Ephrata SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Ephrata
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Ephrata. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wyomissing, PA has a cost of living index of 115, 1.2x Ephrata.
Columbia, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Ephrata.
Willow Street, PA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.2x Ephrata.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Ephrata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyomissing, PA | 11,172 | 115 | 1.2x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,278 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Willow Street, PA | 9,647 | 118 | 1.2x |
| Lititz, PA | 9,619 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Millersville, PA | 8,982 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Mount Joy, PA | 8,344 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Leola, PA | 7,448 | 105 | 1.1x |
| New Holland, PA | 5,780 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Shillington, PA | 5,492 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Whitfield, PA | 5,226 | 106 | 1.1x |
