Washington, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Washington, PA Summary

Cost of living in Washington research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Washington is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Washington is 90, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Washington is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Washington ranks as the #58 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.

  • Washington ranks as the #1,206 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Washington is $235,204.

  • The median income in Washington is $52,350.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
90
Washington's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Washington, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Washington has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Washington has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.

The standard of living in Washington ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Washington ranks as the #197 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Washington, check out:

58 out of 255
In Pennsylvania
1,206 out of 6,489
In America

Washington Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Washington. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Washington is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Washington is 102.

  • The Health index in Washington is 91.

  • The Housing index in Washington is 62.

  • The Transportation index in Washington is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Washington is 126.

Living Expense Washington Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 90 100 100
Services 93 101 100
Groceries 102 101 100
Health 91 95 100
Housing 62 93 100
Transportation 106 108 100
Utilities 126 108 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Washington Cost of Living Vs. PA

Washington, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Washington is $235,204.

  • The Median Rent in Washington is $895.

  • The Median Income in Washington is $52,350.

  • The Home Value To Income in Washington is 4.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Washington is 0.21x.

Statistic Washington Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $235,204 $281,782 $303,400
Median Rent $895 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $52,350 $76,081 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.5x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.18x 0.21x
$235,204
Median Home Value
$895
Median Rent
$52,350
Median Income

Washington, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Washington Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Washington Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.39 $1.28
Movie $11.77 $12.13
Bowling $16.24 $18
Haircut $23.73 $24.26
Beauty Salon $40.4 $45.56

Detailed Washington Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Washington Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $5.7 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.52 $4.67
Potatoes $5.47 $4.93
Pizza $12.83 $12.09
Beer $10.58 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Washington Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Washington Pennsylvania
Optometrist $109.26 $125.68
Doctor $100.92 $135.78
Dentist $110.5 $113.29

Detailed Washington Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Washington Pennsylvania
Gasoline $3.73 $3.46
Tire Balancing $64.05 $59.92

Detailed Washington Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Washington Pennsylvania
All Electricity $270.68 $193.99
Phone $196.77 $192.25

Washington SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Washington

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Washington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Washington.

  • Jefferson Hills, PA has a cost of living index of 109, 1.2x Washington.

  • Brentwood, PA has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Washington.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Washington
Whitehall, PA 14,863 100 1.1x
Jefferson Hills, PA 12,313 109 1.2x
Brentwood, PA 9,927 92 1.0x
Canonsburg, PA 9,682 96 1.1x
Pleasant Hills, PA 8,418 99 1.1x
Castle Shannon, PA 8,237 95 1.1x
Dormont, PA 8,120 98 1.1x
Carnegie, PA 8,015 92 1.0x

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