What is the cost of living in Shippensburg, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Shippensburg has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Shippensburg has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Shippensburg ranks as #131 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Shippensburg ranks as the #122 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Shippensburg, check out:
Shippensburg Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Shippensburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Shippensburg is 108.
The Groceries index in Shippensburg is 107.
The Health index in Shippensburg is 75.
The Housing index in Shippensburg is 110.
The Transportation index in Shippensburg is 102.
The Utilities index in Shippensburg is 111.
| Living Expense | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 110 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 101 | 100 |
Shippensburg 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
Shippensburg, 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 Shippensburg is $197,415.
The Median Rent in Shippensburg is $891.
The Median Income in Shippensburg is $51,503.
The Home Value To Income in Shippensburg is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Shippensburg is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $197,415 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $891 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,503 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Shippensburg, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Shippensburg Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $58.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Shippensburg Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.46 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed Shippensburg Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $114.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $133.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Shippensburg Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed Shippensburg Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Shippensburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.91 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.62 | $192.25 |
Shippensburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Shippensburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Shippensburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chambersburg, PA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Shippensburg.
Progress, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Shippensburg.
East York, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Shippensburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Shippensburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | 22,319 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Progress, PA | 11,017 | 97 | 1.0x |
| East York, PA | 9,388 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Camp Hill, PA | 8,169 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Lower Allen, PA | 7,646 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 92 | 0.9x |
| New Cumberland, PA | 7,580 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Linglestown, PA | 6,957 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Schlusser, PA | 5,402 | 97 | 1.0x |








