| Index | Erie | Pennsylvania | National |
| Cost of living | 86 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Erie is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Erie is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
Erie housing costs are 42.3% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Erie residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 14 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Erie. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 71% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 29% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Wondering if Erie is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Erie, for example, the median home price is 50.3% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 23.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Erie boasting a median household income of $58,044, which is 28.6% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Erie, the utilities index registers at 0.7% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Erie starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 3.07%.
The Erie cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $81,115 | $6,760 | $1,893 | $2,434 |
| Renters | $38,306 | $3,192 | $894 | $1,149 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | 3.07% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Penn State Erie (Behrend), PA | 1,649 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Wattsburg, PA | 447 | 85 | 14.9% |
| Wesleyville, PA | 3,235 | 86 | 14.0% |
| Cranesville, PA | 817 | 87 | 13.2% |
| Fairview borough, PA | 196 | 90 | 9.8% |
| Erie, PA | 100,285 | 86 | 13.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Edinburg, TX | 100,567 | 93 | 7.3% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 100,592 | 102 | 1.9% |
| Federal Way, WA | 100,624 | 133 | 33.0% |
| Nampa, ID | 100,694 | 104 | 4.1% |
| San Marcos, CA | 99,851 | 166 | 65.8% |
| Erie, PA | 100,285 | 86 | 13.6% |
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