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Pennsylvania cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Pennsylvania has a cost-of-living index of 96.2 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $48,100, median household income of $77,545, combined average sales tax about 6.34%, and regular gas about $4.109/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index96.2100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$48,100
Median HH income$77,545
Sales tax (comb.)6.34%
Gas (87 octane)$4.109/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityPhiladelphia (1,550,542)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Flat 3.07%

Sales tax: 6% state (combined avg. ~6.34%)

Major industries: Manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, energy (natural gas), tourism, finance, higher ed

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~85°F (July, Philly area) · Winter low ~23°F (January)

Culture (context)

Independence Hall / Liberty Bell / Carnegie Museums (Pittsburgh)

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 96.2 in Pennsylvania. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 96.2% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Pennsylvania vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Pennsylvania's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Pennsylvania with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

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Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Pennsylvania's cost of living index?

Pennsylvania's cost-of-living index is 96.2 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Pennsylvania?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $48,100 for Pennsylvania.

What is median household income in Pennsylvania?

Median household income in Pennsylvania is $77,545 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Pennsylvania?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Pennsylvania is 6.34%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Pennsylvania have a state income tax?

State income tax in Pennsylvania: Flat 3.07%.

What was regular gas in Pennsylvania in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $4.109 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Pennsylvania's cost-of-living index?

The index is 96.2 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 96.2% of that salary to buy the same basket in Pennsylvania in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.