CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Macon, GA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableGA
Macon
88.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Macon is moderately cheaper than Lancaster — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $72,000 in Macon. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing37.2%
Lancaster
93.8
Macon
58.9
🛒 Groceries4.4%
Lancaster
100.7
Macon
96.3
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Lancaster
102.6
Macon
103.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Lancaster
92.8
Macon
93.7
Utilities16.6%
Lancaster
107.3
Macon
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Macon, GA
$72,000
$8,000 less needed in Macon

Formula: salary × (88.5 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 0.9003. 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×

Macon, GA

Median Home Price
$190,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
58.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.2×

Lancaster has 37.2% lower housing costs compared to Macon.

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

Macon, GA

Median Household Income
$59,800
Per Capita Income
$34,100
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
157,346
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentLogisticsEducation

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)

Macon, GA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.