Bradford, PA vs Oil City, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oil City, PA has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Bradford, PA.

Bradford, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$990 / month
Oil City, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,000 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bradford, PA and Oil City, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $187/month in Oil City, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,240 in Oil City, PA

Regional cost estimates: Bradford, PA uses Pittsburgh, PA. Oil City, PA uses Pittsburgh, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 3.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$187
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$2.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bradford, PA

Population:8K
Cost Index:
81.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$101K

Oil City, PA

Population:9K
Cost Index:
84.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$84K

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Bradford, PA

The Keystone State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Oil City, PA

The Keystone State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bradford, PA vs Oil City, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 3.0%
Bradford, PA
$1,937
Oil City, PA
$1,995
Difference
$57.69
more
Other
↑ 3.0%
Bradford, PA
$1,775
Oil City, PA
$1,828
Difference
$52.86
more
Transportation
↑ 3.0%
Bradford, PA
$1,343
Oil City, PA
$1,383
Difference
$39.99
more
Groceries
↑ 1.5%
Bradford, PA
$1,140
Oil City, PA
$1,157
Difference
$16.85
more
All Utilities
↑ 1.5%
Bradford, PA
$699
Oil City, PA
$709
Difference
$10.33
more
Healthcare
↑ 1.5%
Bradford, PA
$607
Oil City, PA
$616
Difference
$8.97
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$690
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$850
To$760
↓ $90.00
2 Bed
From$990
To$1,000
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,240
To$1,250
↑ $10.00
Bradford, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$850/mo

Oil City, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Bradford, PA
$7,687
Monthly in Oil City, PA
$187
Difference

Home Values

Bradford
Oil City
$101K
Median Value
$84K
↑ +0.4%
YoY Change
↓ -11.8%
↑ +17.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +20.4%

Homes in Oil City are 17% less expensive than Bradford

Calculate payment - BradfordCalculate payment - Oil City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Bradford, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Oil City, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Bradford, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Oil City, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bradford
Oil City
52 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
47.8%
Good Air Days
47.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days

Before moving from Bradford, PA to Oil City, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oil City, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bradford, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bradford to Oil City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Oil City, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bradford, PA vs Oil City, PA

How do the cost estimates for Bradford, PA and Oil City, PA compare?

Oil City, PA has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% higher than Bradford, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bradford, PA, the model estimates $152,240 in Oil City, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bradford, PA and Oil City, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in Bradford, PA and $1,000/month in Oil City, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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