What is the cost of living in Wilkinsburg, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wilkinsburg has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Wilkinsburg has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Wilkinsburg ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Wilkinsburg ranks as the #199 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Wilkinsburg, check out:
Wilkinsburg Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilkinsburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wilkinsburg is 100.
The Groceries index in Wilkinsburg is 100.
The Health index in Wilkinsburg is 65.
The Housing index in Wilkinsburg is 106.
The Transportation index in Wilkinsburg is 105.
The Utilities index in Wilkinsburg is 102.
| Living Expense | Wilkinsburg | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 65 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 101 | 100 |
Wilkinsburg 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
Wilkinsburg, 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 Wilkinsburg is $172,752.
The Median Rent in Wilkinsburg is $1,025.
The Median Income in Wilkinsburg is $46,416.
The Home Value To Income in Wilkinsburg is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilkinsburg is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Wilkinsburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $172,752 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,025 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,416 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Wilkinsburg, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Wilkinsburg Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkinsburg | 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 Wilkinsburg Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkinsburg | 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 Wilkinsburg Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkinsburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wilkinsburg Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkinsburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wilkinsburg Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkinsburg | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Wilkinsburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wilkinsburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wilkinsburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Allison Park, PA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x Wilkinsburg.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.5x Wilkinsburg.
Whitehall, PA has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Wilkinsburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wilkinsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park, PA | 22,045 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.5x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Swissvale, PA | 8,418 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Forest Hills, PA | 6,286 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Fox Chapel, PA | 5,246 | 185 | 2.1x |
