What is the cost of living in Plum, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Plum has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Plum has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Plum ranks as #145 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Plum ranks as the #108 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Plum, check out:
Plum Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Plum. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Plum is 98.
The Groceries index in Plum is 102.
The Health index in Plum is 91.
The Housing index in Plum is 106.
The Transportation index in Plum is 104.
The Utilities index in Plum is 101.
| Living Expense | Plum | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Plum 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
Plum, 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 Plum is $252,851.
The Median Rent in Plum is $1,177.
The Median Income in Plum is $98,705.
The Home Value To Income in Plum is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Plum is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Plum | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $252,851 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,177 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $98,705 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Plum, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Plum Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Plum | 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 Plum Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Plum | 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 Plum Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Plum | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Plum Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Plum | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Plum Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Plum | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Plum SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Plum
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Plum. 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 Plum.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.3x Plum.
Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Plum.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Plum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park, PA | 22,045 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.3x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.0x |
| New Kensington, PA | 12,011 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Lower Burrell, PA | 11,633 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Oakmont, PA | 6,702 | 109 | 1.1x |








