A-
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
0%
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 Elizabethtown Pennsylvania National
Cost of living10398100
Goods & Services10799100
Groceries9999100
Health care11094100
Housing10091100
Transportation108106100
Utilities93107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Elizabethtown, PA

The cost of living in Elizabethtown affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Elizabethtown is 103, which is 3% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Elizabethtown are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Elizabethtown can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Elizabethtown Affordable?

Is Elizabethtown an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Elizabethtown is 0.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 0.8% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Elizabethtown has a median household income of $59,960, which is 8.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Elizabethtown?

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Elizabethtown, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 3.07%.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Elizabethtown, is 0.4% higher than the national average.

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 Elizabethtown, the groceries index is 1.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Elizabethtown cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Elizabethtown is 5% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Elizabethtown is 3% higher than the national average
  • Elizabethtown housing is equal to 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 Elizabethtown

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Compare Elizabethtown, PA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$82,376$6,865$1,922$2,472
      Renters$47,247$3,937$1,102$1,418
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Elizabethtown 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. Elizabethtown has a median income of about $82,376 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,922 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $47,247. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,102 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 Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown National avg. Difference
      Home Price $185,100.00$184,700.000.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,026.41$2,346.6913.6%
      Apartment Rent $957.00$949.000.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Elizabethtown 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.
      York, PA44,0199010.5%
      Valley View CDP (Schuylkill County), PA1,592919.2%
      Lebanon, PA25,779928.4%
      Enhaut, PA1,060928.2%
      Oberlin, PA374928.2%
      Elizabethtown, PA11,4451032.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Magalia, CA11,4441109.6%
      Madison Heights, VA11,447919.2%
      Upper Montclair, NJ11,43918080.5%
      Lyndon, KY11,4511043.5%
      Emmaus, PA11,4381065.9%
      Elizabethtown, PA11,4451032.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.