CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Plano, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
TX
Plano
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent

Lancaster is slightly cheaper than Plano — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $83,900 in Plano. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+25.7%
Lancaster
93.8
Plano
117.9
🛒 Groceries+2.1%
Lancaster
100.7
Plano
102.8
🚗 Transportation+2.0%
Lancaster
102.6
Plano
104.7
🏥 Healthcare+2.0%
Lancaster
92.8
Plano
94.7
Utilities15.5%
Lancaster
107.3
Plano
90.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Lancaster to see what you'd need to earn in Plano to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Plano, TX
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Plano

Formula: salary × (103.1 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 1.0488. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$372,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.7×

Plano, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

Plano has 25.7% higher housing costs compared to Lancaster.

Income & Job Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

Plano, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
285,494
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareTelecommunicationsRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Lancaster, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Plano, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.