Cost of Living in York, PA
York-Hanover, PA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in York, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is York, PA?
With a price level of 96.0 (U.S. average = 100), York, PA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 20% 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 York, PA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.0 | −4.0% |
| Housing | 79.8 | −20.2% |
| Goods | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | +7.0% |
| Other services | 97.7 | −2.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in York, PA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $925 | $37,000/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,060 | $42,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,335 | $53,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,796 | $71,840/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,850 | $74,000/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in York, 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 York, PA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,400 | $31,856 |
| $60,000 | $57,600 | $46,693 |
| $80,000 | $76,800 | $60,501 |
| $100,000 | $96,000 | $73,419 |
| $150,000 | $144,000 | $105,269 |
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 York, PA's median wage of $48,170 takes home about $3,284 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,060, which is 32% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,224 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in York, PA
- Federal income tax$3,600
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,987
- Medicare (1.45%)$698
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,479
- Take-home pay$39,406
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Highest-paying jobs in York, PA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $99,640 | $75,868 | $79,029 |
| Registered Nurse | $96,210 | $73,560 | $76,625 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,590 | $47,458 | $49,436 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $46,270 | $37,937 | $39,518 |
| Office Clerks, General | $44,620 | $36,662 | $38,190 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,380 | $35,704 | $37,192 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $43,290 | $35,635 | $37,119 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,030 | $30,797 | $32,080 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $36,390 | $30,302 | $31,565 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $32,690 | $27,443 | $28,586 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,480 | $25,735 | $26,807 |
| Cashier | $29,360 | $24,869 | $25,906 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,920 | $23,745 | $24,734 |
*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.
York, PA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York, PA | 96.0 | $1,060 | $48,170 | 183,590 |
| Lincoln, NE | 91.6 | $917 | $49,800 | 182,620 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 93.9 | $1,193 | $46,520 | 186,160 |
| Salinas, CA | 109.0 | $2,232 | $47,380 | 186,430 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,429 | $46,870 | 180,620 |
| Davenport, IA | 89.1 | $928 | $48,550 | 180,450 |
| Lafayette, LA | 87.2 | $847 | $41,780 | 179,570 |
Frequently asked questions
Is York, PA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the York-Hanover, PA metro area are 96.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 79.8%. It is the #145 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in York, PA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,600 in York, PA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,170.
Can you afford York, PA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,170 median wage takes home about $3,284 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,060 would take 32% of that.
How much is rent in York, PA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for York, PA are $925 for a studio, $1,060 for one bedroom, $1,335 for two bedrooms and $1,796 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in York, PA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $99,640
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $96,210
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $32,690
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,920
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,480
- Cashier — $29,360
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $44,620
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $43,290
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,590
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $46,270
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,380
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,030