What is the cost of living in Sunbury, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sunbury has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Sunbury has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Sunbury ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Sunbury ranks as the #242 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Sunbury, check out:
Sunbury Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sunbury. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sunbury is 100.
The Groceries index in Sunbury is 101.
The Health index in Sunbury is 50.
The Housing index in Sunbury is 98.
The Transportation index in Sunbury is 98.
The Utilities index in Sunbury is 98.
| Living Expense | Sunbury | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 50 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Sunbury 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
Sunbury, 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 Sunbury is $177,767.
The Median Rent in Sunbury is $738.
The Median Income in Sunbury is $51,028.
The Home Value To Income in Sunbury is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sunbury is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Sunbury | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $177,767 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $738 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,028 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Sunbury, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Sunbury Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Sunbury | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.9 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.86 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $36.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Sunbury Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Sunbury | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.53 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.36 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.88 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $13.28 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Sunbury Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Sunbury | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $83.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.97 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.14 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sunbury Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Sunbury | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.69 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.65 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sunbury Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Sunbury | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $207.34 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.27 | $192.25 |
Sunbury SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sunbury
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sunbury. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Bloomsburg, PA has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Sunbury.
Shamokin, PA has a cost of living index of 81, 1.0x Sunbury.
Milton, PA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Sunbury.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sunbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomsburg, PA | 13,024 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Shamokin, PA | 6,853 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Milton, PA | 6,534 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Selinsgrove, PA | 5,593 | 97 | 1.2x |
| Lewisburg, PA | 5,257 | 101 | 1.2x |
