Cost of Living in Lebanon, PA
Lebanon, PA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lebanon, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Lebanon, PA?
With a price level of 93.2 (U.S. average = 100), Lebanon, PA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 34% below average; everyday goods cost about the same as the national average; utilities run 8% 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 Lebanon, PA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.2 | −6.8% |
| Housing | 66.0 | −34.0% |
| Goods | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Utilities | 108.4 | +8.4% |
| Other services | 97.7 | −2.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lebanon, PA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,035 | $41,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,112 | $44,480/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,411 | $56,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,797 | $71,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,959 | $78,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, PA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,300 | $31,005 |
| $60,000 | $55,900 | $45,380 |
| $80,000 | $74,600 | $59,021 |
| $100,000 | $93,200 | $71,535 |
| $150,000 | $139,800 | $102,527 |
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 Lebanon, PA's median wage of $46,500 takes home about $3,176 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,112, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,064 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Lebanon, PA
- Federal income tax$3,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,883
- Medicare (1.45%)$674
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,428
- Take-home pay$38,115
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
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.
Lebanon, PA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon, PA | 93.2 | $1,112 | $46,500 | 53,710 |
| Salisbury, MD | 95.6 | $1,031 | $48,710 | 53,770 |
| Valdosta, GA | 88.3 | $921 | $39,110 | 53,890 |
| Manhattan, KS | 90.2 | $868 | $45,900 | 53,500 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 86.4 | $832 | $47,350 | 54,390 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 90.5 | $976 | $48,690 | 54,600 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 88.0 | $918 | $43,960 | 54,630 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lebanon, PA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lebanon, PA metro area are 93.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 66.0%. It is the #204 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lebanon, PA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,928 in Lebanon, PA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,500.
Can you afford Lebanon, PA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,500 median wage takes home about $3,176 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,112 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Lebanon, PA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lebanon, PA are $1,035 for a studio, $1,112 for one bedroom, $1,411 for two bedrooms and $1,797 for three bedrooms, including utilities.