CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs San Bernardino, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
CA
San Bernardino
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Lancaster is moderately cheaper than San Bernardino — 8.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $86,600 in San Bernardino. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+37.8%
Lancaster
93.8
San Bernardino
129.3
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Lancaster
100.7
San Bernardino
101.4
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Lancaster
102.6
San Bernardino
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Lancaster
92.8
San Bernardino
96.2
Utilities+38.5%
Lancaster
107.3
San Bernardino
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Bernardino, CA
$86,600
$6,600 more needed in San Bernardino

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 1.0824. 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×

San Bernardino, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

San Bernardino has 37.8% 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

San Bernardino, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
222,101
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsGovernmentRetailManufacturing

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)

San Bernardino, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.