Harrisburg, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Harrisburg, PA Summary
Cost of living in Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is 88, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Harrisburg is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Harrisburg ranks as the #42 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Harrisburg ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Harrisburg is $257,982.
The median income in Harrisburg is $47,783.
Table Of Contents
Harrisburg's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Harrisburg, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Harrisburg has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Harrisburg has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in Harrisburg ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Harrisburg ranks as the #213 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Harrisburg, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Harrisburg Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Harrisburg. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Harrisburg is 108.
The Groceries index in Harrisburg is 97.
The Health index in Harrisburg is 108.
The Housing index in Harrisburg is 59.
The Transportation index in Harrisburg is 109.
The Utilities index in Harrisburg is 92.
| Living Expense | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 108 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 97 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 108 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 59 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 109 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 92 | 108 | 100 | |
Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg is $257,982.
The Median Rent in Harrisburg is $996.
The Median Income in Harrisburg is $47,783.
The Home Value To Income in Harrisburg is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Harrisburg is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $257,982 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $996 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $47,783 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Harrisburg, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Harrisburg Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Harrisburg | 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 Harrisburg Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Harrisburg | 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 Harrisburg Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Harrisburg Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed Harrisburg Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Harrisburg SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Harrisburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Harrisburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Progress, PA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.2x Harrisburg.
Camp Hill, PA has a cost of living index of 110, 1.2x Harrisburg.
Palmyra, PA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Harrisburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress, PA | 11,143 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Camp Hill, PA | 8,149 | 110 | 1.2x |
| Palmyra, PA | 7,769 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,620 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Lower Allen, PA | 7,582 | 101 | 1.1x |
| New Cumberland, PA | 7,531 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Linglestown, PA | 6,747 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Schlusser, PA | 5,926 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Enola, PA | 5,913 | 96 | 1.1x |
