CICostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $73,400 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.7%
Lancaster
93.8
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries6.7%
Lancaster
100.7
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation4.0%
Lancaster
102.6
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.0%
Lancaster
92.8
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities16.8%
Lancaster
107.3
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$73,400
$6,600 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 0.9176. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Home Price
$390,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
93.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.0×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$343,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Lancaster has 23.7% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

Income & Job Market

Lancaster, PA

Median Household Income
$85,800
Per Capita Income
$48,900
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
59,322
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismAgriculture

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$72,400
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lancaster, PA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Lawrence, KS
4.5×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.