Compare My City
Cost of living index

Altoona, PA

89.5 / 100

Living in Altoona, PA is 10.5% cheaper than the US average — the #297 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $854/mo

Median home value: $156,700

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Altoona, PA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter
38° / 23°F
(3° / -5°C)
6.8 in precip
Spring
60° / 40°F
(16° / 4°C)
10 in precip
Summer
81° / 60°F
(27° / 16°C)
10.2 in precip
Fall
62° / 44°F
(17° / 7°C)
9.7 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from ALTOONA BLAIR CO AP, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Altoona, PA

The Altoona, PA metro area has an overall price level of 89.5 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 10.5% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 55.0 it is 45.0% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#297 of 387
89.5
Goods#59 of 387
100.7
Housing rents#356 of 387
55.0
Utilities#72 of 387
107.7
Other services#265 of 387
97.7

Altoona, PA is moved down the most by housing rents, at 55.0 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

How Altoona, PA compares

Similar cost: Longview, TX (89.5)Cheaper: Canton, OH (89.4)More expensive: Kokomo, IN (89.6)

Other metros in Pennsylvania

Allentown, PA100.0Chambersburg, PA94.6Erie, PA91.0Gettysburg, PA95.4Harrisburg, PA98.7Johnstown, PA85.9Lancaster, PA98.3Lebanon, PA93.2
See all 16 metros in Pennsylvania →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Altoona, PA an expensive place to live?

Altoona, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 89.5, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 10.5% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Altoona, PA?

Housing rents in Altoona, PA score 55.0 against a US average of 100 — roughly 45.0% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Altoona, PA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Altoona, PA sit at 89.5 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 55.0. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.