Cost of living index

Harrisburg, PA

98.7 / 100

Living in Harrisburg, PA is 1.3% cheaper than the US average — the #100 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,151/mo

Median home value: $239,100

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

Winter
43° / 27°F
(6° / -3°C)
8.2 in precip
Spring
64° / 44°F
(18° / 7°C)
10.5 in precip
Summer
85° / 65°F
(29° / 18°C)
11.7 in precip
Fall
67° / 47°F
(19° / 8°C)
10.6 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from HARRISBURG CPTL CY AP, via NOAA.

The Harrisburg, PA metro area has an overall price level of 98.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 1.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 96.3 it is 3.7% 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#100 of 387
98.7
Goods#63 of 387
100.7
Housing rents#110 of 387
96.3
Utilities#71 of 387
108.1
Other services#269 of 387
97.7

Harrisburg, PA is moved up the most by utilities, at 108.1 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 Harrisburg, PA an expensive place to live?

Harrisburg, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 1.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Harrisburg, PA?

Housing rents in Harrisburg, PA score 96.3 against a US average of 100 — roughly 3.7% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

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

Overall prices in Harrisburg, PA sit at 98.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 96.3. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.