CostIndexUSA

Lancaster, PA vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Lancaster
98.3
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
AZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Lancaster is moderately cheaper than Scottsdale — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lancaster, you would need $84,100 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.2%
Lancaster
93.8
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries5.7%
Lancaster
100.7
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Lancaster
102.6
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Lancaster
92.8
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities13.0%
Lancaster
107.3
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 1.0509. 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×

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Scottsdale has 29.2% higher housing costs compared to Lancaster.

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

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)

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×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.