A-
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
2%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Carlisle Pennsylvania National
Cost of living10298100
Goods & Services10799100
Groceries9999100
Health care11094100
Housing9891100
Transportation108106100
Utilities93107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Carlisle, PA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Carlisle? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Carlisle stands at 102, making it 2% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

In Carlisle, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Carlisle will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Carlisle Affordable?

Is Carlisle an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Carlisle is 1% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 7.5% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Carlisle has a median household income of $49,557, which is 10.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Carlisle?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Carlisle, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 3.07%.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Carlisle, the transportation index stands at 8.4% higher than the national average.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Carlisle, the housing index is 1.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Carlisle cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Carlisle is 4% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Carlisle is 2% higher than the national average
  • Carlisle housing is 2% lower than the national average
  • Pennsylvania general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania state income tax is 18% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Carlisle

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Compare Carlisle, PA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$79,111$6,593$1,846$2,374
      Renters$36,338$3,028$848$1,090
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Carlisle, PA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Carlisle homeowners, is $79,111. This would allow for a maximum of $1,846 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $36,338 which would result in a maximum of $848 to be spent on rental costs.

      Pennsylvania Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Pennsylvania 6% 8%

      Pennsylvania Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Pennsylvania 3.07% 3.07%

      Goods & Services

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.17$24.267.9%
      Beauty Salon $40.39$45.5611.4%
      Toothpaste $3.77$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.43$1.2811.4%
      Movie $12.52$12.133.2%
      Bowling $15.56$18.0013.6%

      Groceries

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.65$5.843.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.45$1.578.0%
      Milk $4.49$4.673.8%
      Potatoes $5.37$4.938.8%
      Pizza $11.67$12.093.4%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $123.25$125.681.9%
      Doctor $177.40$135.7830.7%
      Dentist $118.44$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.64$10.650.2%
      Lipitor $469.00$468.600.1%

      Housing

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      Home Price $186,500.00$184,700.001.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,026.41$2,346.6913.6%
      Apartment Rent $878.00$949.007.5%

      Transportation

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.66$3.465.7%
      Tire Balancing $68.88$59.9215.0%

      Utilities

      Item Carlisle National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $169.62$193.9912.6%
      Phone $195.81$192.251.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Messiah College, PA2,0521043.7%
      Plainfield, PA278918.8%
      Duncannon, PA1,305928.2%
      Gardners, PA57937.0%
      Landisburg, PA182936.8%
      Carlisle, PA19,1881022.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pinecrest, FL19,18319594.8%
      Broadview Heights, OH19,1951032.5%
      Frankfort, IL19,16612827.6%
      North Liberty, IA19,1591066.2%
      Haslett, MI19,223991.2%
      Carlisle, PA19,1881022.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.