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 92, 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 97.
The standard of living in Lancaster ranks as #78 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Lancaster ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Lancaster, check out:
Lancaster Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lancaster. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lancaster is 101.
The Groceries index in Lancaster is 99.
The Health index in Lancaster is 77.
The Housing index in Lancaster is 95.
The Transportation index in Lancaster is 98.
The Utilities index in Lancaster is 96.
| Living Expense | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 77 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Lancaster 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lancaster is $243,852.
The Median Rent in Lancaster is $1,240.
The Median Income in Lancaster is $63,690.
The Home Value To Income in Lancaster is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lancaster is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $243,852 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,240 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,690 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 96, 1.0x Lancaster.
Columbia, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Lancaster.
Willow Street, PA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x Lancaster.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephrata, PA | 13,772 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,278 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Willow Street, PA | 9,647 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Lititz, PA | 9,619 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Millersville, PA | 8,982 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,565 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Mount Joy, PA | 8,344 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Leola, PA | 7,448 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Red Lion, PA | 6,516 | 91 | 1.0x |
| New Holland, PA | 5,780 | 103 | 1.1x |
