CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Harrisburg, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Harrisburg is moderately cheaper than Boulder — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $75,100 in Harrisburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing38.7%
Boulder
157
Harrisburg
96.3
🛒 Groceries+4.8%
Boulder
96.1
Harrisburg
100.7
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Boulder
104.8
Harrisburg
102.6
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Boulder
94.8
Harrisburg
92.8
Utilities+30.7%
Boulder
82.7
Harrisburg
108.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Harrisburg, PA
$75,100
$4,900 less needed in Harrisburg

Formula: salary × (98.7 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.9382. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Harrisburg, PA

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

Boulder has 38.7% lower housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

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).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.