The Bowie Apartments
16 W 10th St,
Erie, PA 16501
$800 - $1,050
Studio - 1 Bed
Cost of Living in Erie, PA
The cost of living in Erie, PA is 13.0% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Erie is 44.6% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $810 – $1,713. You can expect to pay 3.0% less for groceries, 9.0% more for utilities, and 14.0% more for transportation.
-13.0%
Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average
-44.6%
Housing Cost vs. National Average
$810 - $1,713
Most Common Rent Range
Compare Cost of Living Between Cities
Determine the income needed to maintain your lifestyle when moving to a new city.
Cost of Living Summary in Erie, PA by Household Type
The cost of living in Erie for a renter is 18.4% lower than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $3,888/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$682 per month
-1.4% lower than US avg.
Housing
$1,199 per month
-42.8% lower than US avg.
Utilities
$416 per month
+10.3% higher than US avg.
Transportation
$421 per month
+8.2% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$133 per month
-7.6% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services
$1,037 per month
-2.8% lower than US avg.
The cost of living in Erie for a home owner is 11.8% lower than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $7,444/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,350 per month
-1.8% lower than US avg.
Housing
$1,275 per month
-45.3% lower than US avg.
Utilities
$936 per month
+11.2% higher than US avg.
Transportation
$892 per month
+8.8% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$371 per month
-7.9% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,620 per month
-1.9% lower than US avg.
The cost of living in Erie for a married couple with children under 6 is 12.0% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $6,745/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,322 per month
-1.8% lower than US avg.
Housing
$1,218 per month
-44.3% lower than US avg.
Utilities
$885 per month
+10.9% higher than US avg.
Transportation
$851 per month
+8.1% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$326 per month
-8.2% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,143 per month
-2.2% lower than US avg.
The cost of living in Erie for a married couple with children 6-17 is 11.9% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $7,757/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.
Groceries
$1,544 per month
-1.7% lower than US avg.
Housing
$1,339 per month
-44.4% lower than US avg.
Utilities
$964 per month
+10.8% higher than US avg.
Transportation
$978 per month
+8.1% higher than US avg.
Healthcare
$373 per month
-7.7% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services
$2,559 per month
-3.4% lower than US avg.
Cost of Living Details for Erie, PA
Is Erie expensive to live in?
Erie’s overall cost of living is 13.0% lower than the national average, making it a less expensive city compared to other US locations.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Erie, PA?
To live comfortably in Erie, PA, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $46,656 before taxes. Expect to pay around $14,388/year for housing, $8,184/year for groceries, and $12,444 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.
Average Housing Cost in Erie, PA vs. National Average
Cost of Renting
The average rent in Erie, PA is $937, which is 42.8% lower than the national average.
Start your search for an apartment in Erie, PA, and view the average rent.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment | $937/month | $1,639/month | -43% |
Cost of Buying a Home
The average listing price for a home in Erie, PA is $289,500, which is 44.2% lower than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average House Cost | $289,500 | $518,961 | -44% |
Groceries
The average cost of groceries in Erie, PA is 3.0% lower than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Steak | $15.63 |
$15.52 |
+1% |
| Ground Beef | $6.42 |
$7.04 |
-9% |
| Sausage | $4.87 |
$4.92 |
-1% |
| Frying Chicken | $1.40 |
$1.57 |
-11% |
| Chunk Light Tuna | $1.11 |
$1.22 |
-9% |
| Whole Milk | $4.57 |
$4.70 |
-3% |
| Eggs | $4.41 |
$3.56 |
+24% |
| Margarine | $1.38 |
$1.53 |
-10% |
| Parmesan Cheese | $4.64 |
$4.62 |
+0% |
| Potatoes | $5.00 |
$4.60 |
+9% |
| Bananas | $0.85 |
$0.74 |
+15% |
| Lettuce | $1.97 |
$1.91 |
+3% |
| Bread | $3.60 |
$3.95 |
-9% |
| Fresh Orange Juice | $4.69 |
$4.50 |
+4% |
| Coffee | $5.53 |
$5.57 |
-1% |
| Sugar | $5.34 |
$4.84 |
+10% |
| Corn Flakes | $4.93 |
$5.12 |
-4% |
| Sweet Peas | $1.62 |
$1.66 |
-2% |
| Peaches | $2.84 |
$2.79 |
+2% |
| Detergent | $19.77 |
$20.08 |
-2% |
| Cooking Oil | $9.99 |
$8.92 |
+12% |
| Frozen Meal | $3.20 |
$3.59 |
-11% |
| Frozen Corn | $2.02 |
$1.98 |
+2% |
| Potato Chips | $3.81 |
$3.99 |
-5% |
| Soft Drink | $2.71 |
$2.74 |
-1% |
| Hamburger | $6.37 |
$5.67 |
+12% |
| Pizza | $9.86 |
$12.36 |
-20% |
| Fried Chicken | $5.24 |
$5.36 |
-2% |
Utilities
The average cost of utilities in Erie, PA is 9.0% higher than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | $240.62 |
$207.40 |
+16% |
| Phone | $200.21 |
$195.49 |
+2% |
Healthcare
The average cost of healthcare in Erie, PA is 10.9% lower than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrist Visit | $108.83 |
$131.82 |
-17% |
| Doctor Visit | $137.17 |
$145.43 |
-6% |
| Dentist Visit | $111.23 |
$118.71 |
-6% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.80 |
$11.08 |
-3% |
| Prescription Drug | $17.57 |
$20.78 |
-15% |
Transportation
The average cost of transportation in Erie, PA is 14.0% higher than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.21 |
$3.24 |
-1% |
| Tire Balance | $84.96 |
$62.82 |
+35% |
Goods & Services
The average cost of good and services in Erie, PA is 3.8% lower than the national average.
| Erie, PA | National Average | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Toothpaste | $3.99 |
$4.10 |
-3% |
| Shampoo | $1.71 |
$1.54 |
+11% |
| Dry Cleaning | $19.12 |
$17.30 |
+11% |
| Man Dress Shirt | $30.08 |
$38.22 |
-21% |
| Boy Jeans | $23.89 |
$28.30 |
-16% |
| Women Slacks | $28.70 |
$36.54 |
-21% |
| Washer Repair | $100.30 |
$95.67 |
+5% |
| Newspaper | $17.68 |
$12.52 |
+41% |
| Movie | $10.63 |
$12.52 |
-15% |
| Yoga | $13.83 |
$18.94 |
-27% |
| Tennis Balls | $5.39 |
$3.96 |
+36% |
| Veterinary Services | $71.44 |
$69.61 |
+3% |
| Beer | $8.96 |
$10.21 |
-12% |
| Wine | $12.46 |
$11.79 |
+6% |
| Facial Tissues | $1.88 |
$2.11 |
-11% |
| Haircut | $22.42 |
$26.24 |
-15% |
| Beauty Salon | $49.82 |
$49.12 |
+1% |
Compare Erie to Other Top Cities
Apartments for Rent in Erie, PA
Houses for Rent in Erie, PA
Explore Cost of Living in Popular Cities
What is a cost of living index?
A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.
How is cost of living calculated?
Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.
Housing
Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.
Food and Groceries
Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.
Utilities
Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.
Healthcare
Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.
Transportation
Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.
Goods & Services
Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.
How to interpret your results
Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.
Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.
Learn More with Helpful Articles
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2025.