What is the cost of living in Swarthmore, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Swarthmore has an overall cost of living index of 132, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Swarthmore has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Swarthmore ranks as #244 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Swarthmore ranks as the #9 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Swarthmore, check out:
Swarthmore Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Swarthmore. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Swarthmore is 100.
The Groceries index in Swarthmore is 99.
The Health index in Swarthmore is 202.
The Housing index in Swarthmore is 98.
The Transportation index in Swarthmore is 98.
The Utilities index in Swarthmore is 101.
| Living Expense | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 132 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 202 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Swarthmore 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
Swarthmore, 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 Swarthmore is $467,860.
The Median Rent in Swarthmore is $1,532.
The Median Income in Swarthmore is $152,361.
The Home Value To Income in Swarthmore is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Swarthmore is 0.12x.
| Statistic | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $467,860 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,532 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $152,361 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.12x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Swarthmore, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Swarthmore Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.52 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.54 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $66.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Swarthmore Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Swarthmore Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.31 | $113.29 |
Detailed Swarthmore Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed Swarthmore Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Swarthmore | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.27 | $192.25 |
Swarthmore SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Swarthmore
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Swarthmore. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Ardmore, PA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.0x Swarthmore.
Woodlyn, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 0.7x Swarthmore.
Ashland, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 0.9x Swarthmore.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Swarthmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore, PA | 13,909 | 127 | 1.0x |
| Woodlyn, PA | 9,736 | 98 | 0.7x |
| Ashland, NJ | 9,320 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Conshohocken, PA | 9,282 | 124 | 0.9x |
| Folsom, PA | 8,671 | 107 | 0.8x |
| Glenside, PA | 7,659 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Ridley Park, PA | 7,261 | 104 | 0.8x |
| Glenolden, PA | 7,220 | 99 | 0.8x |
| Blue Bell, PA | 6,424 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Paoli, PA | 6,362 | 125 | 0.9x |
