What is the cost of living in Steelton, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Steelton has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Steelton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Steelton ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Steelton ranks as the #199 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Steelton, check out:
Steelton Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Steelton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Steelton is 100.
The Groceries index in Steelton is 97.
The Health index in Steelton is 67.
The Housing index in Steelton is 102.
The Transportation index in Steelton is 98.
The Utilities index in Steelton is 98.
| Living Expense | Steelton | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Steelton 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
Steelton, 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 Steelton is $149,755.
The Median Rent in Steelton is $1,289.
The Median Income in Steelton is $58,194.
The Home Value To Income in Steelton is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Steelton is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Steelton | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $149,755 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,289 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,194 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Steelton, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Steelton Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Steelton | 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 Steelton Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Steelton | 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 Steelton Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Steelton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $177.4 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Steelton Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Steelton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.66 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.88 | $59.92 |
Detailed Steelton Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Steelton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $169.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Steelton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Steelton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Steelton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Progress, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Steelton.
East York, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Steelton.
Camp Hill, PA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.2x Steelton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Steelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress, PA | 11,017 | 97 | 1.1x |
| East York, PA | 9,388 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Camp Hill, PA | 8,169 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Lower Allen, PA | 7,646 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 92 | 1.0x |
| New Cumberland, PA | 7,580 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Linglestown, PA | 6,957 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Schlusser, PA | 5,402 | 97 | 1.1x |
