Cost of Living in Erie, PA
Erie, PA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
91.0
U.S. average = 100 · #271 of 387
Median wage
$44,460
all jobs · $3,045/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$945
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Erie, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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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.
Take-home pay in Erie, PA
Your take-home pay
$36,539
per year · effective tax rate 17.8%
$3,045Monthly
$1,522Twice a month
$1,405Every 2 weeks
$17.57Hourly
- 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
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Erie, PA
Management Occupations
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $96,420
- General and Operations Manager — $89,840
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $93,590
- Accountant and Auditor — $70,000
- Human Resources Specialist — $60,860
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Computer Systems Analyst — $80,500
- Computer User Support Specialist — $52,000
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Mechanical Engineer — $106,890
- Industrial Engineer — $86,430
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $49,820
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $44,810
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $39,710
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $69,920
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $65,870
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,330
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $33,770
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,000
- Physicians, All Other — $73,600
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $60,510
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $39,640
- Nursing Assistant — $39,430
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $27,860
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $80,860
- Security Guard — $34,530
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,980
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,540
- Dishwasher — $26,300
- Bartender — $22,730
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,600
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $33,840
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $28,560
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $26,430
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $60,680
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $56,210
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $41,440
- Retail Salesperson — $28,610
- Cashier — $28,340
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,390
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $45,300
- Office Clerks, General — $42,220
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $42,210
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $41,850
- Customer Service Representative — $41,720
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $39,280
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $32,210
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Carpenter — $56,850
- Construction Laborer — $46,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,840
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,760
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $62,130
- Machinist — $55,120
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,180
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,340
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $43,470
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $42,480
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $40,330
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $37,190
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $36,530
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,770
- Light Truck Driver — $38,660
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,980
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,920