Overall
96.8
-3.2 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
State College, PA
Cost-of-living indicators for State College, PA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 96.8
- Overall RPP
- #134
- of 387 metros
- 85.7
- Rents RPP
- $103K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
State College costs less than 35% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 96.8, 3.2% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 85.7.
- 96.8
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #134
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 65%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 85.7
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $103,346 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $96,762.
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 vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
97 Top 35% higher than 65% 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
State College cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
85.7 RPP
- Services
Services
109.5 RPP
- Overall
Overall
96.8 RPP
- Goods
Goods
100.7 RPP
What this shows State College's gap from the national average is led by rents at 85.7. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where State College's cost comes from
Metros near State College'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 96.2, rents 93). State College is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near State College'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
109.5
+9.5 above avg
Rents
85.7
-14.3 below avg
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
What this means for State College
How to read State College's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $103,346 in State College. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 85.7 (14.3% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $72,748; adjusted for State College's price level that is about $75,182 in national-average buying power.
- Compare State College head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
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 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 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
