F
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
65%
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 Upper St. Clair Pennsylvania National
Cost of living12098100
Goods & Services9399100
Groceries10099100
Health care9194100
Housing16591100
Transportation107106100
Utilities125107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Upper St. Clair, PA

The cost of living in Upper St. Clair 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 Upper St. Clair is 120, which is 20% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Upper St. Clair cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 64.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Upper St. Clair Affordable?

Wondering if Upper St. Clair is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Upper St. Clair, for example, the median home price is 44.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 110.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Upper St. Clair boasting a median household income of $110,417, which is 99.6% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Upper St. Clair?

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 Upper St. Clair, is 64.6% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Upper St. Clair, the groceries index is 0.3% lower 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 Upper St. Clair, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6%, and the income tax rates commence at 3.07%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Upper St. Clair 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 Upper St. Clair is 22% higher than the Pennsylvania average
  • The cost of living in Upper St. Clair is 20% higher than the national average
  • Upper St. Clair housing is 65% 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 Upper St. Clair

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Compare Upper St. Clair, 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$118,112$9,843$2,756$3,544
      Renters$52,105$4,342$1,216$1,563
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Upper St. Clair, PA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Upper St. Clair, homeowners have a median income of $118,112. Using that number, a maximum of $2,756 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $52,105, which means there is a maximum of $1,216 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Upper St. Clair 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 Upper St. Clair 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 Upper St. Clair 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 Upper St. Clair National avg. Difference
      Home Price $267,500.00$184,700.0044.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,225.61$2,346.695.2%
      Apartment Rent $2,000.00$949.00110.7%

      Transportation

      Item Upper St. Clair National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.73$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.05$59.926.9%

      Utilities

      Item Upper St. Clair 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.
      Westland, PA451010.8%
      Van Voorhis, PA4781010.8%
      Webster, PA781010.8%
      Southview, PA3141010.8%
      North Braddock, PA4,7038119.5%
      Upper St. Clair, PA19,52112019.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Montgomery, IL19,51511010.4%
      Salmon Creek, WA19,50612828.2%
      El Reno, OK19,5398515.3%
      Monroe, MI19,543937.4%
      Lake Forest, IL19,49718181.1%
      Upper St. Clair, PA19,52112019.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.