Overall
93.2
-6.8 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Lebanon, PA
Cost-of-living indicators for Lebanon, PA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 93.2
- Overall RPP
- #204
- of 387 metros
- 66.0
- Rents RPP
- $107K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Lebanon costs less than 53% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 93.2, 6.8% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 66.0.
- 93.2
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #204
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 47%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 66.0
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $107,280 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $93,214.
What the Numbers Mean for Lebanon
Lebanon ranks #204 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the lower half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 93.2, Lebanon, PA is 6.8% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Lebanon's most and least expensive categories — services at 108.4 versus rents at 66.0 — 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 $107,280 inside Lebanon, while a household needs roughly $93,214 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 66.0 — 34.0% 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, Lebanon's overall index has fallen by 5.8 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 100.7 and services at 108.4, meaning everyday spending in Lebanon 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.
Lebanon vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
93 Top 53% higher than 47% 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
Lebanon cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
66 RPP
- Services
Services
108.4 RPP
- Overall
Overall
93.2 RPP
- Goods
Goods
100.7 RPP
What this shows Lebanon's gap from the national average is led by rents at 66.0. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Lebanon's cost comes from
Metros near Lebanon'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 96.3, rents 76.8). Lebanon is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Lebanon'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
108.4
+8.4 above avg
Rents
66.0
-34.0 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$93,214
in Lebanon, PA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$46,607
$75,000 nationally
$69,911
$125,000 nationally
$116,518
$150,000 nationally
$139,821
$200,000 nationally
$186,428
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 5.8 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 93.1 |
| 2012 | 95.7 |
| 2013 | 94.1 |
| 2014 | 95.8 |
| 2015 | 95.8 |
| 2016 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 98.0 |
| 2018 | 96.6 |
| 2019 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 94.9 |
| 2021 | 95.9 |
| 2022 | 93.0 |
| 2023 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 93.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Lebanon, PA's index of 93.2.
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 Lebanon, PA? ▼
Lebanon, PA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 93.2, meaning it is 6.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 100.7, services at 108.4, and rents at 66.0. It ranks #204 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Lebanon, PA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $93,214 in Lebanon, PA. Conversely, $100K earned in Lebanon, PA has the purchasing power of $107,280 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Lebanon, PA? ▼
Rents in Lebanon, PA are indexed at 66.0, which is 34.0% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Lebanon, PA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Lebanon, PA's overall cost index changed by -5.8 points (from 99.0 to 93.2). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Lebanon, PA? ▼
The most expensive category in Lebanon, PA is services at 108.4, which is 8.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 66.0, 34.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Lebanon, PA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Burlington, Greenville-Anderson-Greer, Morgantown. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Lebanon, PA's 93.2.
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
