What is the cost of living in Forest Hills, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest Hills has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Forest Hills has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Forest Hills ranks as #99 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Forest Hills ranks as the #154 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Forest Hills, check out:
Forest Hills Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest Hills. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest Hills is 100.
The Groceries index in Forest Hills is 100.
The Health index in Forest Hills is 79.
The Housing index in Forest Hills is 103.
The Transportation index in Forest Hills is 102.
The Utilities index in Forest Hills is 101.
| Living Expense | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 79 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Forest Hills 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
Forest Hills, 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 Forest Hills is $222,966.
The Median Rent in Forest Hills is $1,068.
The Median Income in Forest Hills is $89,688.
The Home Value To Income in Forest Hills is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest Hills is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $222,966 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,068 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $89,688 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Forest Hills, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Hills Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Forest Hills Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Forest Hills Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forest Hills Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forest Hills Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Forest Hills | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Forest Hills SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest Hills
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest Hills. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Allison Park, PA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Forest Hills.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.4x Forest Hills.
Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Forest Hills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park, PA | 22,045 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Wilkinsburg, PA | 14,027 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Swissvale, PA | 8,418 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.0x |
| West View, PA | 6,533 | 93 | 1.0x |
