Cost of Living in Pennsylvania: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Pennsylvania? doxo breaks down key insights about Pennsylvania’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Pennsylvania pays $1,785 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Pennsylvania’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Pennsylvania ranks as the 29th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Pennsylvania is ranked as the 29th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $21,420 per year, Pennsylvania’s household expenses, on average, are 13% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Pennsylvania households spend 26% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Pennsylvania is 87.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,785 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 87
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #29
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 26%
- Compared to the National Median: 13% lower
Pennsylvania Household Expenses are 13% Lower Than the National Median
The average Pennsylvania household pays $1,785 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Pennsylvania is $80, compared to the national median of $74, making it 8% higher than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Pennsylvania residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,531, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 14% less expensive.
Median Pennsylvania Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Pennsylvania Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Pennsylvania Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,531 | $1,775 | 14% lower |
| Rent | $1,209 | $1,453 | 17% lower |
| Auto Loan | $400 | $470 | 15% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $100 | $105 | 5% lower |
| Health Insurance | $57 | $72 | 21% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $94 | $96 | 2% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $122 | $121 | 1% higher |
| Life Insurance | $54 | $60 | 10% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $80 | $74 | 8% higher |
| Total | $1,785 | $2,065 | 13% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Buckingham has the highest cost of living in Pennsylvania for household bills
Residents of Buckingham pay the highest household bills in the state of Pennsylvania, at a median of $4,125 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Buckingham is 200, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 100% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Buckingham make up 22% of the median annual household income of $223,182.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Pennsylvania Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Buckingham | $223,182 | $4,125 | 200 | 100% higher | 22% |
| 2 | Chester Springs | $210,227 | $3,532 | 171 | 71% higher | 20% |
| 3 | Zieglerville | $55,517 | $3,477 | 168 | 68% higher | 75% |
| 4 | Chester Heights | $136,647 | $3,471 | 168 | 68% higher | 30% |
| 5 | Thronton | $208,920 | $3,446 | 167 | 67% higher | 20% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Waltersburg has the lowest cost of living in Pennsylvania for household bills
Waltersburg is the most affordable place in Pennsylvania, with residents paying $761 on average for household bills, accounting for 21% of annual income of $43,491. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Waltersburg is 37, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 63% below the national median.
Chalk Hill is the second most affordable city in Pennsylvania, with residents paying $761 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Pennsylvania are Indian Head ($761), Fairbank ($761) and Locust Gap ($761).
5 Most Affordable Pennsylvania Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Waltersburg | $43,491 | $761 | 37 | 63% lower | 21% |
| 2 | Chalk Hill | $250,000 | $761 | 37 | 63% lower | 4% |
| 3 | Indian Head | $44,334 | $761 | 37 | 63% lower | 21% |
| 4 | Fairbank | $65,625 | $761 | 37 | 63% lower | 14% |
| 5 | Locust Gap | $69,087 | $766 | 37 | 63% lower | 13% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Pennsylvania with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.