How much does it cost to live in Pennsylvania?
The third-quarter 2021 MERIC cost of living index ranks Pennsylvania as the 29th most expensive place to live. This means that Pennsylvania is just a little bit more expensive than Minnesota and a little bit cheaper than Montana.
On average, it costs less to live in Pennsylvania than it is nationwide. The Bureau of Economic Analysis says that on average, goods and services in the state cost 2.5% less than they do in the rest of the country.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
Pennsylvania is in the middle of the pack when it comes to how much it costs to keep a roof over your head. Zillow's most recent data shows that the average value of a home in the commonwealth was close to $243,000.
According to the National Association of Realtors®, the median price of an existing home sold in the United States in late 2021 was $359,700. The Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development said that the median price of a new home was $408,800.
The average Pennsylvania renter spends $915 per month on housing, $108 less than the national average of $1,023. The average monthly rent for a unit with five or more bedrooms is $1,133, compared to $767 for a one-bedroom.
Here's some stats on Pennsylvania Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 68.9%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 0.4%
- Rental vacancy rate: 5.4%
Childcare
In Pennsylvania, the average yearly cost of child care for a 4-year-old is $9,773, which is slightly higher than the national average of $8,903. Also, it costs an average of $17,820 a year to care for a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old, compared to the national average of $15,853.
Here’s a look at the annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $11,842
- 4-Year-Old: $9,773
- School: $11,886
- College: $14,534
Utilities
The average residential electricity bill in Pennsylvania is $353 per month. For instance, Electricity consumers in Pennsylvania pay approximately $167 per month on average. This totals $2,004 per year. This is 5% more than the average national electric cost of $1,905 per month.
Here’s what you need to consider in terms of utility costs:
- Electricity: $167
- Gas: $101
- Cable & Internet: $106
- Water: $31
Food & Groceries
The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that a typical Pennsylvania resident will spend $3,334 year on food and beverages. When divided by 12 months, the result is around $278 per person, $556 for a couple, or $1,111 for a family of four.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant: $15
- Fast food combo (big mac etc.): $8.03
- Bottle of Coca-Cola: $1.98
- Bottle of water: $1.16
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter): $1.12
- Loaf of fresh white Bread (500g): $3.19
- Rice (1 Kg): $4.06
- Eggs (regular) (12): $3.06
- 4 Rolls of toilet paper: $3.85
- Hair shampoo: $5.46
Transportation
84.6% of workers in Pennsylvania drive to work, compared to 85.5% of commuters nationwide. The average annual mileage traveled by a driver in the state is 7,945 miles. Considering average fuel economy and the average price of petrol — standard fuel cost an average of $2.51 per gallon in Pennsylvania in mid-2020 — the average Pennsylvania driver can expect to spend $824 on gas alone in a single year.
According to data from Insure.com, the average car insurance premium in Pennsylvania is $1,928, more than the national average of $1,517. The average single adult in the state spends $9,459 year on transportation, according to EPI data.
Average Income & Taxes
The average yearly income of a single adult living in Pennsylvania is $58,733. With a marginal tax rate of 32.8% and an average tax rate of 19.6%, your financial burden is significant. You will be taxed at this rate on any additional money you make right away. If your salary goes up $100, for instance, the government will take $32.78 out of it, reducing your take-home pay to $67.22.
Most expensive Pennsylvanian cities to live in
- New Hope
- Bryn Mawr
- Malvern
- Doylestown
- Kennett Square
Why is disability insurance important to have in Pennsylvania?
As shown by the above cost of living breakdown, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. But sometimes you find yourself unable to work due to some sort of emergency, illness or accident. Whether you are a full-time employee or a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability and peace of mind.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that medical issues caused 62.1% of bankruptcies. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of the foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Pennsylvania are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, in Pennsylvania, there were 1,269 foreclosure filings in the third quarter, which is just under 3% of the total number of filings across the country. The rate of foreclosures went up by 9.68% from the second quarter of 2021 and by 21.43% from the same time last year. In Pennsylvania, one out of every 4,486 homes had a foreclosure filing.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not the top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable but your income shouldn’t be.
Does Pennsylvania have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania isn’t one of those states.
If a medical condition keeps a Pennsylvanian from working, they might be able to get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to help pay for their basic needs.
To get SSDI in Pennsylvania, you must be a worker, the widow of a worker, or the adult child of a worker, and you must have a medical condition that makes it impossible for you to work. This health problem must have been going on for at least a year, will go on for at least a year, or is likely to kill the person.
But it's not as easy as one might think to file a successful Social Security disability claim. In fact, 32.1% of Social Security disability claims in Pennsylvania are denied, which is the same rate as the rest of the country.
What qualifies as disability in Pennsylvania?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Pennsylvania?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Pennsylvania. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times. Click here to get a quote, or contact us for any inquiries.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Pennsylvania?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer a variety of disability income insurance policies. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Pennsylvania cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Pennsylvania will cost you $3,721 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work should not go to waste due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider while thinking about it:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital. We don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments, unlike other insurers and we'll just ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employee to corner office executive, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.