What is the cost of living in State College, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, State College has an overall cost of living index of 120, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, State College has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in State College ranks as #222 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies State College ranks as the #31 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in State College, check out:
State College Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in State College. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in State College is 98.
The Groceries index in State College is 100.
The Health index in State College is 167.
The Housing index in State College is 103.
The Transportation index in State College is 97.
The Utilities index in State College is 99.
| Living Expense | State College | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 120 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 167 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
State College 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
State College, 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 State College is $408,500.
The Median Rent in State College is $1,273.
The Median Income in State College is $45,424.
The Home Value To Income in State College is 9.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in State College is 0.34x.
| Statistic | State College | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $408,500 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,273 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $45,424 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.0x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.34x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
State College, PA Costs By Category
Detailed State College Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | 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 State College Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | 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 State College Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed State College Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed State College Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | State College | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
State College SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around State College
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around State College. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Altoona, PA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.7x State College.
Jacksonville, TX has a cost of living index of 89, 0.7x State College.
Lock Haven, PA has a cost of living index of 92, 0.8x State College.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. State College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 43,196 | 89 | 0.7x |
| Jacksonville, TX | 14,325 | 89 | 0.7x |
| Lock Haven, PA | 8,447 | 92 | 0.8x |
| Huntingdon, PA | 6,897 | 92 | 0.8x |
| Bellefonte, PA | 6,009 | 101 | 0.8x |
| Clearfield, PA | 5,873 | 85 | 0.7x |
| Hollidaysburg, PA | 5,558 | 96 | 0.8x |
| Tyrone, PA | 5,377 | 88 | 0.7x |
