A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
48%
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 Pottsville Pennsylvania National
Cost of living8898100
Goods & Services10799100
Groceries9999100
Health care11094100
Housing5291100
Transportation108106100
Utilities93107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Pottsville, PA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Pottsville? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Pottsville stands at 88, making it 12% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Pottsville stands out by reporting housing costs that are 47.8% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Is Pottsville Affordable?

Is Pottsville 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 Pottsville, the median home price is 58% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 24.1% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Pottsville come in at $39,154, which is 29.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Pottsville?

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Pottsville, the groceries index registers 1.1% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Pottsville, the healthcare costs are 10.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Pottsville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Pottsville is 10% lower than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Pottsville is 12% lower than the national average
  • Pottsville housing is 48% lower 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 Pottsville

See all the best places to live around Pottsville

Compare Pottsville, 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$59,906$4,992$1,398$1,797
      Renters$23,354$1,946$545$701
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Pottsville 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. Pottsville has a median income of about $59,906 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,398 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $23,354. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $545 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 Pottsville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.17$24.267.9%
      Beauty Salon $40.39$45.5611.4%
      Toothpaste $3.77$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.43$1.2811.4%
      Movie $12.52$12.133.2%
      Bowling $15.56$18.0013.6%

      Groceries

      Item Pottsville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.65$5.843.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.45$1.578.0%
      Milk $4.49$4.673.8%
      Potatoes $5.37$4.938.8%
      Pizza $11.67$12.093.4%
      Beer $11.13$10.416.9%

      Health Care

      Item Pottsville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $123.25$125.681.9%
      Doctor $177.40$135.7830.7%
      Dentist $118.44$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.64$10.650.2%
      Lipitor $469.00$468.600.1%

      Housing

      Item Pottsville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $77,600.00$184,700.0058.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,026.41$2,346.6913.6%
      Apartment Rent $720.00$949.0024.1%

      Transportation

      Item Pottsville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.66$3.465.7%
      Tire Balancing $68.88$59.9215.0%

      Utilities

      Item Pottsville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $169.62$193.9912.6%
      Phone $195.81$192.251.9%
      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.
      Centralia, PA01043.7%
      Bethel, PA5001043.7%
      Deer Lake CDP, PA4621043.7%
      Strong, PA1931043.7%
      Wilburton Number Two, PA761000.1%
      Pottsville, PA13,5498811.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Central Elgin, ON13,549n/a 
      Snoqualmie, WA13,55017373.1%
      Marietta, OH13,5518812.3%
      Bécancour, QC13,552n/a 
      Bay St. Louis, MS13,539991.1%
      Pottsville, PA13,5498811.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.