What is the cost of living in York, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, York has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, York has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in York ranks as #25 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies York ranks as the #228 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in York, check out:
York Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in York. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in York is 102.
The Groceries index in York is 98.
The Health index in York is 58.
The Housing index in York is 101.
The Transportation index in York is 100.
The Utilities index in York is 98.
| Living Expense | York | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 58 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
York 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
York, 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 York is $275,648.
The Median Rent in York is $1,014.
The Median Income in York is $48,420.
The Home Value To Income in York is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in York is 0.25x.
| Statistic | York | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $275,648 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,014 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $48,420 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
York, PA Costs By Category
Detailed York Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.69 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.03 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $58.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed York Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.73 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.46 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.36 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.69 | $3.7 |
Detailed York Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $114.22 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $133.22 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed York Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.46 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $62.66 | $59.92 |
Detailed York Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.91 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.62 | $192.25 |
York SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around York
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around York. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hanover, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.2x York.
Weigelstown, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.2x York.
Shiloh, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.2x York.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover, PA | 16,584 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Weigelstown, PA | 15,485 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Shiloh, PA | 11,246 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Columbia, PA | 10,278 | 93 | 1.1x |
| East York, PA | 9,388 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Mount Joy, PA | 8,344 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Parkville, PA | 8,128 | 98 | 1.2x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 92 | 1.1x |
| New Cumberland, PA | 7,580 | 100 | 1.2x |
| West York, PA | 5,092 | 91 | 1.1x |
