Erie, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Erie, PA Summary

Cost of living in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie is 86, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Erie is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Erie ranks as the #28 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.

  • Erie ranks as the #639 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Erie is $197,626.

  • The median income in Erie is $43,397.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
86
Erie's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Erie, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Erie has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Erie has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.

The standard of living in Erie ranks as #28 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Erie ranks as the #227 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Erie, check out:

28 out of 255
In Pennsylvania
639 out of 6,489
In America

Erie Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Erie. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Erie is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Erie is 98.

  • The Health index in Erie is 90.

  • The Housing index in Erie is 55.

  • The Transportation index in Erie is 113.

  • The Utilities index in Erie is 109.

Living Expense Erie Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 86 100 100
Services 95 101 100
Groceries 98 101 100
Health 90 95 100
Housing 55 93 100
Transportation 113 108 100
Utilities 109 108 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Erie Cost of Living Vs. PA

Erie, 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 Erie is $197,626.

  • The Median Rent in Erie is $836.

  • The Median Income in Erie is $43,397.

  • The Home Value To Income in Erie is 4.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Erie is 0.23x.

Statistic Erie Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $197,626 $281,782 $303,400
Median Rent $836 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $43,397 $76,081 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.6x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.21x
$197,626
Median Home Value
$836
Median Rent
$43,397
Median Income

Erie, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Erie Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.42 $1.28
Movie $10.18 $12.13
Bowling $12.76 $18
Haircut $20.02 $24.26
Beauty Salon $45.08 $45.56

Detailed Erie Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $5.35 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.33 $1.57
Milk $4.52 $4.67
Potatoes $5.46 $4.93
Pizza $9.45 $12.09
Beer $8.99 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.63 $3.7

Detailed Erie Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Optometrist $99.22 $125.68
Doctor $124.54 $135.78
Dentist $103.83 $113.29

Detailed Erie Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Gasoline $3.68 $3.46
Tire Balancing $79.53 $59.92

Detailed Erie Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
All Electricity $218.99 $193.99
Phone $196.0 $192.25

Erie SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
7
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
10
Education
6
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Erie

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Erie. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Ashtabula, OH has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Erie.

  • Meadville, PA has a cost of living index of 92, 1.1x Erie.

  • Dunkirk, NY has a cost of living index of 79, 0.9x Erie.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Erie
Ashtabula, OH 17,919 86 1.0x
Meadville, PA 12,723 92 1.1x
Dunkirk, NY 12,597 79 0.9x
Fredericksburg, TX 11,254 113 1.3x
Fredonia, NY 9,601 89 1.0x
Northwest Harborcreek, PA 8,908 99 1.2x
Centerville, SC 6,860 92 1.1x
Geneva, OH 5,912 89 1.0x
Edinboro, PA 5,303 98 1.1x

Articles About Pennsylvania

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