B+
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
9%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bethel Park Pennsylvania National
Cost of living10398100
Goods & Services9399100
Groceries10099100
Health care9194100
Housing10991100
Transportation107106100
Utilities125107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bethel Park, PA

Knowing the cost of living in Bethel Park allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Bethel Park stands at 103, marking it 3% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Bethel Park closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Bethel Park can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Bethel Park Affordable?

Is Bethel Park an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Bethel Park, the median home price is 10.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 4.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Bethel Park come in at $84,304, which is 52.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bethel Park?

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Bethel Park, the groceries index is 0.3% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Bethel Park, the general sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates begin at 3.07%.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Bethel Park, the transportation index is 7.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Bethel Park displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bethel Park is 5% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Bethel Park is 3% higher than the national average
  • Bethel Park housing is 9% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Pennsylvania state income tax is 18% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bethel Park

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Compare Bethel Park, PA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$92,914$7,743$2,168$2,788
      Renters$51,988$4,332$1,213$1,560
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Bethel Park is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Bethel Park has a median income of about $92,914 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,168 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $51,988. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,213 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Pennsylvania Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Pennsylvania 6% 8%

      Pennsylvania Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Pennsylvania 3.07% 3.07%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.73$24.262.2%
      Beauty Salon $40.40$45.5611.3%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.39$1.288.5%
      Movie $11.77$12.133.0%
      Bowling $16.24$18.009.8%

      Groceries

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.6%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.47$4.9310.8%
      Pizza $12.83$12.096.2%
      Beer $10.58$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $109.26$125.6813.1%
      Doctor $100.92$135.7825.7%
      Dentist $110.50$113.292.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.45$10.651.9%
      Lipitor $502.54$468.607.2%

      Housing

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      Home Price $204,400.00$184,700.0010.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,225.61$2,346.695.2%
      Apartment Rent $990.00$949.004.3%

      Transportation

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.73$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.05$59.926.9%

      Utilities

      Item Bethel Park National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $270.68$193.9939.5%
      Phone $196.77$192.252.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Webster, PA781010.8%
      Green Hills, PA141010.8%
      Westland, PA451010.8%
      Van Voorhis, PA4781010.8%
      Southview, PA3141010.8%
      Bethel Park, PA32,3101033.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Woodstock, GA32,31011211.8%
      Spring Valley, NY32,29512727.2%
      West Little River, FL32,2931033.3%
      La Verne, CA32,34616161.4%
      Fallbrook, CA32,35915555.3%
      Bethel Park, PA32,3101033.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.