Lancaster, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Lancaster, PA Summary
Cost of living in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster is 94, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Lancaster is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Lancaster ranks as the #89 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Lancaster ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Lancaster is $238,665.
The median income in Lancaster is $63,421.
Table Of Contents
Lancaster's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Lancaster, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lancaster has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Lancaster has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in Lancaster ranks as #89 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Lancaster ranks as the #166 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Lancaster, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Lancaster Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lancaster. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lancaster is 108.
The Groceries index in Lancaster is 98.
The Health index in Lancaster is 110.
The Housing index in Lancaster is 75.
The Transportation index in Lancaster is 109.
The Utilities index in Lancaster is 93.
| Living Expense | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 108 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 98 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 110 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 75 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 109 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 93 | 108 | 100 | |
Lancaster, 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 Lancaster is $238,665.
The Median Rent in Lancaster is $1,177.
The Median Income in Lancaster is $63,421.
The Home Value To Income in Lancaster is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lancaster is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $238,665 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,177 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $63,421 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Lancaster, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Lancaster Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Lancaster | 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 Lancaster Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Lancaster | 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 Lancaster Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lancaster Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lancaster Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Lancaster | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Lancaster SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lancaster
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lancaster. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ephrata, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Lancaster.
Columbia, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Lancaster.
Willow Street, PA has a cost of living index of 120, 1.3x Lancaster.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephrata, PA | 13,729 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,217 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Willow Street, PA | 10,010 | 120 | 1.3x |
| Lititz, PA | 9,599 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Millersville, PA | 8,711 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,511 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Mount Joy, PA | 8,310 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Leola, PA | 8,107 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Red Lion, PA | 6,494 | 96 | 1.0x |
| New Holland, PA | 5,743 | 104 | 1.1x |
