Cost of living index
Lancaster, PA
98.3 / 100
Living in Lancaster, PA is 1.7% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
98.3
Housing / rent
93.8
vs US average
−1.7%
What it costs to live in Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA has an overall price level of 98.3 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 1.7% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 93.8 it is 6.2% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Lancaster, PA an expensive place to live?
Lancaster, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.3, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 1.7% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Lancaster, PA?
Housing in Lancaster, PA scores 93.8 against a US average of 100 — roughly 6.2% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Lancaster, PA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Lancaster, PA sit at 98.3 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 93.8. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.