Erie, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Erie, PA Summary

Cost of living in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie is 85, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Erie is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Erie ranks as the #15 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • Erie ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Erie is $91,300.

  • The median income in Erie is $40,201.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
85
Erie's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Erie, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Erie has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Erie has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.

The standard of living in Erie ranks as #15 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Erie ranks as the #232 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Erie, check out:

15 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
777 out of 6,412
In America

Erie Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

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

  • The Services index in Erie is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Erie is 92.

  • The Health index in Erie is 88.

  • The Housing index in Erie is 53.

  • The Transportation index in Erie is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Erie is 98.

Living Expense Erie Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 85 97 100
Services 99 99 100
Groceries 92 101 100
Health 88 97 100
Housing 53 85 100
Transportation 98 105 100
Utilities 98 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Erie Cost of Living Vs. PA

Erie, 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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Erie is $91,300.

  • The Median Rent in Erie is $754.

  • The Median Income in Erie is $40,201.

  • The Home Value To Income in Erie is 2.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Erie is 0.23x.

Statistic Erie Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $91,300 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $754 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $40,201 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.3x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Erie, PA
$91,300
Median Home Value
$754
Median Rent
$40,201
Median Income

Erie, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Erie Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Shampoo $0.95 $1.06
Movie $11.16 $10.68
Bowling $15.0 $14.67
Haircut $17.42 $18.62
Beauty Salon $38.64 $39.05

Detailed Erie Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $3.89 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.23 $1.39
Milk $2.27 $2.05
Potatoes $3.41 $3.29
Pizza $11.66 $10.62
Beer $9.49 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.72 $2.34

Detailed Erie Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Optometrist $62.78 $108.57
Doctor $94.5 $116.17
Dentist $83.55 $99.13

Detailed Erie Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.29 $2.22
Tire Balancing $42.61 $50.07

Detailed Erie Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Erie Pennsylvania
All Electricity $153.91 $167.67
Phone $189.34 $175.64

Erie SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
7
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
10
Education
6
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Erie

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

  • Ashtabula, OH has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Erie.

  • Meadville, PA has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Erie.

  • Dunkirk, NY has a cost of living index of 80, 0.9x Erie.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Erie
Ashtabula, OH 18,091 86 1.0x
Meadville, PA 12,999 88 1.0x
Dunkirk, NY 12,651 80 0.9x
Fredericksburg, TX 10,864 106 1.2x
Fredonia, NY 10,018 90 1.1x
Northwest Harborcreek, PA 9,052 91 1.1x
Centerville, SC 7,276 88 1.0x
Geneva, OH 5,948 88 1.0x
Edinboro, PA 5,097 94 1.1x

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