Overall
96.8
-3.2 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
State College, PA
Cost-of-living indicators for State College, PA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 44300 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #134 of 387
State College, PA has a cost of living index of 96.8, meaning it's 3.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 0.7% more, services 9.5% more, and rents are 14.3% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $103,346 here.
What the Numbers Mean for State College
State College ranks #134 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 96.8, State College, PA is 3.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between State College's most and least expensive categories — services at 109.5 versus rents at 85.7 — 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 $103,346 inside State College, while a household needs roughly $96,762 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 85.7 — 14.3% 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, State College's overall index has fallen by 2.4 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 100.7 and services at 109.5, meaning everyday spending in State College 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.
State College Cost Index at a Glance
State College all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
State College category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
100.7
+0.7 above avg
Services
109.5
+9.5 above avg
Rents
85.7
-14.3 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 96.8 (-3.2 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 100.7 (+0.7 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 109.5 (+9.5 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 85.7 (-14.3 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +9.5% (109.5)
Goods +0.7% (100.7)
Below National Average
Rents -14.3% (85.7)
Overall -3.2% (96.8)
Income Adequacy in State College
State College income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 96.8
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$96,762
in State College, PA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,381
$75,000 nationally
$72,572
$125,000 nationally
$120,953
$150,000 nationally
$145,143
$200,000 nationally
$193,524
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 |
| 2009 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 99.2 |
| 2011 | 98.3 |
| 2012 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 99.0 |
| 2014 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 99.4 |
| 2016 | 101.4 |
| 2017 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 98.0 |
| 2021 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 96.5 |
| 2023 | 93.7 |
| 2024 | 96.8 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to State College, PA's index of 96.8.
Other PA Metros
Related Data for State College
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for State College area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for State College metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near State College
School Districts
NCES school data for State College area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for State College area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
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 State College, PA? ▼
State College, PA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 96.8, meaning it is 3.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 100.7, services at 109.5, and rents at 85.7. It ranks #134 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in State College, PA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $96,762 in State College, PA. Conversely, $100K earned in State College, PA has the purchasing power of $103,346 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in State College, PA? ▼
Rents in State College, PA are indexed at 85.7, which is 14.3% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is State College, PA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, State College, PA's overall cost index changed by -2.4 points (from 99.2 to 96.8). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in State College, PA? ▼
The most expensive category in State College, PA is services at 109.5, which is 9.5% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 85.7, 14.3% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to State College, PA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Gainesville, Gainesville, Great Falls. These areas have RPP values within a few points of State College, PA's 96.8.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government 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.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
