Cost of Living in Erie, PA
Erie, PA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Erie, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Erie, PA?
With a price level of 91.0 (U.S. average = 100), Erie, PA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 43% below average; everyday goods cost about the same as the national average; utilities run 7% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Erie, PA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | −9.0% |
| Housing | 56.8 | −43.2% |
| Goods | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Utilities | 106.8 | +6.8% |
| Other services | 97.7 | −2.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Erie, PA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $836 | $33,440/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $945 | $37,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,212 | $48,480/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,499 | $59,960/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,683 | $67,320/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Erie, PA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Erie, PA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,400 | $30,310 |
| $60,000 | $54,600 | $44,375 |
| $80,000 | $72,800 | $57,810 |
| $100,000 | $91,000 | $70,055 |
| $150,000 | $136,400 | $100,308 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Erie, PA's median wage of $44,460 takes home about $3,045 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $945, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,100 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Erie, PA
- Federal income tax$3,155
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$645
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,365
- Take-home pay$36,539
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Highest-paying jobs in Erie, PA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $89,840 | $69,274 | $76,168 |
| Registered Nurse | $80,000 | $62,654 | $68,888 |
| Retail Salesperson | $28,610 | $24,290 | $26,707 |
| Cashier | $28,340 | $24,078 | $26,474 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $27,860 | $23,697 | $26,055 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $26,540 | $22,651 | $24,905 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Pennsylvania cities
Half of Pennsylvania’s 6,064,600 workers earn less than $49,690 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,690–$78,270 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Philadelphia, PA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Allentown, PA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 41% | $2,159 | $43,051 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,650 | 94.7 | $1,058 | 31% | $2,321 | $42,832 |
| Allentown, PA | $48,990 | 100.0 | $1,365 | 41% | $1,972 | $40,052 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $49,610 | 98.7 | $1,212 | 36% | $2,165 | $41,073 |
| Scranton, PA | $46,330 | 93.6 | $1,028 | 32% | $2,137 | $40,600 |
| Lancaster, PA | $48,210 | 98.3 | $1,220 | 37% | $2,066 | $40,136 |
| York, PA | $48,170 | 96.0 | $1,060 | 32% | $2,224 | $41,048 |
| Reading, PA | $49,440 | 97.1 | $1,237 | 37% | $2,129 | $41,611 |
| Erie, PA | $44,460 | 91.0 | $945 | 31% | $2,100 | $40,174 |
| State College, PA | $49,220 | 96.8 | $1,194 | 36% | $2,157 | $41,563 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | 94.6 | $1,119 | 35% | $2,124 | $41,122 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,270 | 89.5 | $948 | 31% | $2,085 | $40,658 |
| Lebanon, PA | $46,500 | 93.2 | $1,112 | 35% | $2,064 | $40,890 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,050 | 92.3 | $995 | 32% | $2,152 | $40,896 |
| Johnstown, PA | $44,110 | 85.9 | $846 | 28% | $2,176 | $42,207 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Erie, PA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | 91.0 | $945 | $44,460 | 120,480 |
| Burlington, VT | 100.9 | $1,651 | $60,020 | 120,150 |
| Ocala, FL | 95.2 | $1,172 | $43,990 | 120,980 |
| Kingsport, TN | 86.4 | $818 | $45,240 | 119,560 |
| Greeley, CO | 100.2 | $1,238 | $55,070 | 119,540 |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 94.8 | $998 | $48,510 | 121,790 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 108.6 | $1,914 | $50,770 | 122,020 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Erie, PA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Erie, PA metro area are 91.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 56.8%. It is the #271 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Erie, PA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,570 in Erie, PA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $44,460.
Can you afford Erie, PA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $44,460 median wage takes home about $3,045 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $945 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Erie, PA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Erie, PA are $836 for a studio, $945 for one bedroom, $1,212 for two bedrooms and $1,499 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Erie, PA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $89,840
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,000
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $27,860
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,540
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $28,610
- Cashier — $28,340