Cost of living index

Erie, PA

91.0 / 100

Living in Erie, PA is 9.0% cheaper than the US average — the #270 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $876/mo

Median home value: $169,500

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

Winter
37° / 24°F
(3° / -4°C)
10.1 in precip
Spring
56° / 38°F
(13° / 3°C)
10.1 in precip
Summer
79° / 62°F
(26° / 17°C)
10.4 in precip
Fall
62° / 47°F
(17° / 8°C)
12.4 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from ERIE INTL AP, via NOAA.

The Erie, PA metro area has an overall price level of 91.0 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 9.0% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 56.8 it is 43.2% 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.

Overall#270 of 387
91.0
Goods#61 of 387
100.7
Housing rents#345 of 387
56.8
Utilities#81 of 387
106.8
Other services#267 of 387
97.7

Erie, PA is moved down the most by housing rents, at 56.8 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

See all 16 metros in Pennsylvania →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

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.

Is Erie, PA an expensive place to live?

Erie, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 91.0, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 9.0% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Erie, PA?

Housing rents in Erie, PA score 56.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 43.2% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

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

Overall prices in Erie, PA sit at 91.0 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 56.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.