CostIndexUSA

Albany, NY vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NY
Albany
99.6
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Harrisburg is slightly cheaper than Albany — 0.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Albany, you would need $79,300 in Harrisburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.1%
Albany
102.6
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Albany
99.7
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Albany
102.6
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Albany
92.9
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities19.3%
Albany
134
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$79,300
$700 less needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 99.6) = salary × 0.9910. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Albany, NY

Median Home Price
$350,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
102.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Harrisburg, PA

Median Home Price
$298,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
96.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Albany has 6.1% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Albany, NY

Median Household Income
$82,400
Per Capita Income
$47,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
98,111
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEducationFinanceTechnology

Harrisburg, PA

Median Household Income
$76,800
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
49,192
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Albany, NY
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.