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 97.
The standard of living in Erie ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Erie ranks as the #220 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Erie, check out:
Erie Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Erie. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Erie is 98.
The Groceries index in Erie is 99.
The Health index in Erie is 58.
The Housing index in Erie is 101.
The Transportation index in Erie is 100.
The Utilities index in Erie is 97.
| Living Expense | Erie | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 58 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Erie 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Erie is $198,492.
The Median Rent in Erie is $870.
The Median Income in Erie is $46,113.
The Home Value To Income in Erie is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Erie is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Erie | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $198,492 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $870 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,113 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 82, 1.0x Erie.
Meadville, PA has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Erie.
Dunkirk, NY has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Erie.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Erie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashtabula, OH | 17,856 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Meadville, PA | 12,577 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Dunkirk, NY | 12,549 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Fredericksburg, TX | 11,419 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Fredonia, NY | 9,467 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Northwest Harborcreek, PA | 8,753 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Centerville, SC | 7,049 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Geneva, OH | 5,886 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Edinboro, PA | 5,440 | 96 | 1.1x |
