Overall
89.5
-10.5 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Altoona, PA
Cost-of-living indicators for Altoona, PA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 89.5
- Overall RPP
- #298
- of 387 metros
- 55.0
- Rents RPP
- $112K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Altoona costs less than 77% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 89.5, 10.5% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 55.0.
- 89.5
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #298
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 23%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 55.0
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $111,723 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $89,507.
What the Numbers Mean for Altoona
Altoona ranks #298 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 89.5, Altoona, PA is 10.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Altoona's most and least expensive categories — services at 107.7 versus rents at 55.0 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $111,723 inside Altoona, while a household needs roughly $89,507 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 55.0 — 45.0% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Altoona's overall index has fallen by 4.4 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 100.7 and services at 107.7, meaning everyday spending in Altoona is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Altoona vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
90 Top 77% higher than 23% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Altoona cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
55 RPP
- Services
Services
107.7 RPP
- Overall
Overall
89.5 RPP
- Goods
Goods
100.7 RPP
What this shows Altoona's gap from the national average is led by rents at 55.0. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Altoona's cost comes from
Metros near Altoona's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 93.8, rents 66.7). Altoona is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Altoona's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
100.7
+0.7 above avg
Services
107.7
+7.7 above avg
Rents
55.0
-45.0 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$89,507
in Altoona, PA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$44,754
$75,000 nationally
$67,130
$125,000 nationally
$111,884
$150,000 nationally
$134,261
$200,000 nationally
$179,014
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 4.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 |
| 2009 | 91.7 |
| 2010 | 93.7 |
| 2011 | 93.5 |
| 2012 | 92.3 |
| 2013 | 92.8 |
| 2014 | 89.3 |
| 2015 | 92.5 |
| 2016 | 91.5 |
| 2017 | 91.2 |
| 2018 | 91.3 |
| 2019 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 89.7 |
| 2021 | 89.3 |
| 2022 | 89.0 |
| 2023 | 88.7 |
| 2024 | 89.5 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Altoona, PA's index of 89.5.
Other PA Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Altoona, PA? ▼
Altoona, PA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 89.5, meaning it is 10.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 100.7, services at 107.7, and rents at 55.0. It ranks #298 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Altoona, PA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $89,507 in Altoona, PA. Conversely, $100K earned in Altoona, PA has the purchasing power of $111,723 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Altoona, PA? ▼
Rents in Altoona, PA are indexed at 55.0, which is 45.0% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Altoona, PA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Altoona, PA's overall cost index changed by -4.4 points (from 93.9 to 89.5). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Altoona, PA? ▼
The most expensive category in Altoona, PA is services at 107.7, which is 7.7% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 55.0, 45.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Altoona, PA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Wichita Falls, Longview, Columbia. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Altoona, PA's 89.5.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
