| Index | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | National |
| Cost of living | 79 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 31 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Johnstown? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Johnstown stands at 79, making it 21% lower 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.
According to the latest cost of living report, Johnstown stands out as one of the most budget-friendly places to reside in the nation. In fact, only a handful of cities boast a cost of living index that is at least 20% below the national average, and Johnstown proudly belongs to that select group. This underscores the exceptional affordability of this region in comparison to other urban centers.
Housing costs often consume a significant share of your take-home income, often surpassing 30%. Fortunately, Johnstown distinguishes itself by reporting housing expenses that are 68.9% below the national average. This indicates that both owning a home and renting in this area are notably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the nation. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Johnstown can allocate more of their income to housing, enhancing their financial flexibility.
Is Johnstown an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Johnstown, the median home price is 79.8% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 43.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Johnstown come in at $43,472, which is 46.6% lower than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Johnstown, the groceries index is 2.4% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Johnstown, healthcare costs are 2.6% lower than the national average.
The Johnstown cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $56,524 | $4,710 | $1,319 | $1,696 |
| Renters | $28,632 | $2,386 | $668 | $859 |
| 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. |
| University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, PA | 1,506 | 99 | 0.9% |
| St. Michael, PA | 359 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Dunlo, PA | 562 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Graceton, PA | 164 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Sidman, PA | 226 | 76 | 24.1% |
| Johnstown, PA | 19,980 | 79 | 21.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Evergreen Park, IL | 19,979 | 105 | 4.7% |
| Murray, KY | 19,988 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Montrose, CO | 19,970 | 111 | 10.6% |
| Matteson, IL | 19,990 | 102 | 2.2% |
| Affton, MO | 19,993 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Johnstown, PA | 19,980 | 79 | 21.3% |
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