CostIndexUSA

Harrisburg, PA vs Ontario, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Harrisburg
98.7
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent

Harrisburg is moderately cheaper than Ontario — 7.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Harrisburg, you would need $86,200 in Ontario. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+34.3%
Harrisburg
96.3
Ontario
129.3
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Harrisburg
100.7
Ontario
101.4
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Harrisburg
102.6
Ontario
106.3
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Harrisburg
92.8
Ontario
96.2
Utilities+37.5%
Harrisburg
108.1
Ontario
148.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ontario, CA
$86,200
$6,200 more needed in Ontario

Formula: salary × (106.4 ÷ 98.7) = salary × 1.0780. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Harrisburg, PA

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

Ontario, CA

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

Ontario has 34.3% higher housing costs compared to Harrisburg.

Income & Job Market

Harrisburg, PA

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

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Harrisburg, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Ontario, 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.