A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
46%
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 Chester Pennsylvania National
Cost of living8998100
Goods & Services10699100
Groceries10699100
Health care10794100
Housing5491100
Transportation108106100
Utilities92107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Chester, PA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Chester? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Chester stands at 89, making it 11% 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.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Chester are 45.6% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.

Is Chester Affordable?

Is Chester affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Chester, the median home price is 61.9% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 7.5% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Chester boasting a median household income of $32,867, 40.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Chester?

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 Chester, the healthcare costs are 7% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Chester, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 3.07%.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Chester, the transportation index stands at 8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Chester 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 Chester is 9% lower than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Chester is 11% lower than the national average
  • Chester housing is 46% 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 Chester

See all the best places to live around Chester

Compare Chester, 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$46,647$3,887$1,088$1,400
      Renters$26,871$2,239$627$806
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Chester, PA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Chester have a median income of $46,647. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,088 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $26,871, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $627.

      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 Chester National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.14$24.2624.2%
      Beauty Salon $47.42$45.564.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.2810.4%
      Movie $12.71$12.134.7%
      Bowling $19.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Chester National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.73$5.841.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.573.6%
      Milk $4.81$4.673.0%
      Potatoes $5.40$4.939.5%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.96$10.4114.8%

      Health Care

      Item Chester National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.67$125.689.6%
      Doctor $149.53$135.7810.1%
      Dentist $132.28$113.2916.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.94$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $438.67$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Chester National avg. Difference
      Home Price $70,300.00$184,700.0061.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,192.51$2,346.696.6%
      Apartment Rent $878.00$949.007.5%

      Transportation

      Item Chester National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.50$3.461.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.86$59.9224.9%

      Utilities

      Item Chester National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $173.73$193.9910.4%
      Phone $182.79$192.254.9%
      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.
      Cheyney University, PA1941044.4%
      Prospect Park CDP, PA2248217.9%
      Marcus Hook, PA2,334919.0%
      Camden, NJ73,742919.1%
      Colwyn, PA2,541918.7%
      Chester, PA33,8558910.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Glendale Heights, IL33,8631088.3%
      Cottonwood Heights, UT33,86513030.1%
      Golden Glades, FL33,84311313.2%
      LaSalle, ON33,838n/a 
      San Luis, AZ33,8751010.6%
      Chester, PA33,8558910.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.