City comparison
Lancaster, PA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lancaster, PA are 2.4% higher than in York, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in York, PA would need about $102,400 in Lancaster, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,220 a month in Lancaster, PA versus $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lancaster, PA and 17% in York, PA.
- Both are in PA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.1% moving from Lancaster, PA to York, PA ($108,592 → $121,785), while prices change by −2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.8% in real buying power.
- Lancaster, PA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lancaster, PA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,703 in York | $102,351 in Lancaster |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,220/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,210 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Lancaster, PA MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Lancaster, PA and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lancaster | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.3 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lancaster, PA → York, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
76 Strong offer
York, PA → Lancaster, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lancaster, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Lancaster, PA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lancaster, PA | York, PA | Real change, Lancaster → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $70,623 | +14.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $85,447 | +14.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $102,415 | +14.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $121,785 | +14.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $143,913 | +14.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lancaster, PA | York, PA | York pay in Lancaster dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,360 | $79,730 | $81,604 (+4.1%) |
| Software Developers | $104,740 | $114,600 | $117,294 (+12.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,110 | $75,160 | $76,927 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $89,620 | $96,210 | $98,472 (+9.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.