Pawtucket, RI vs Lancaster, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 28.2% lower than Pawtucket, RI.

Pawtucket, RI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,640 / month
Lancaster, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / 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 Pawtucket, RI and Lancaster, 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

Current salary in Pawtucket, RI

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,838/month in Lancaster, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $127,942 in Lancaster, PA

Regional cost estimates: Pawtucket, RI uses Boston, MA. Lancaster, PA uses Baltimore, MD. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 28.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,838

Savings

Annual Impact

$22.1K

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.

Pawtucket, RI

Population:75K

Cost Index:

136.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$383K

Lancaster, PA

Population:57K

Cost Index:

98.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$309K

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Pawtucket, RI

The Ocean State

75K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Rhode Island, this city has a population of 75K residents.

Lancaster, PA

The Keystone State

57K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 57K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Pawtucket, RI vs Lancaster, 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.

Category	Pawtucket, RI	Lancaster, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,222/mo	$1,922/mo	↓ $1,300less	40.3%
Transportation	$1,242/mo	$945/mo	↓ $297less	23.9%
Healthcare	$526/mo	$419/mo	↓ $108less	20.5%
All Utilities	$507/mo	$431/mo	↓ $75.38less	14.9%
Other	$1,238/mo	$1,170/mo	↓ $68.75less	5.6%
Groceries	$764/mo	$775/mo	↑ $10.65more	1.4%

Housing

↓ 40.3%

Pawtucket, RI

$3,222

Lancaster, PA

$1,922

Difference

$1,300

less

Transportation

↓ 23.9%

Pawtucket, RI

$1,242

Lancaster, PA

$945

Difference

$297

less

Healthcare

↓ 20.5%

Pawtucket, RI

$526

Lancaster, PA

$419

Difference

$108

less

All Utilities

↓ 14.9%

Pawtucket, RI

$507

Lancaster, PA

$431

Difference

$75.38

less

Other

↓ 5.6%

Pawtucket, RI

$1,238

Lancaster, PA

$1,170

Difference

$68.75

less

Groceries

↑ 1.4%

Pawtucket, RI

$764

Lancaster, PA

$775

Difference

$10.65

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Earned Income Tax$4,380/yr (2.9%)

Pawtucket, RI has no local income tax recorded in this dataset.

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,250

To$1,160

↓ $90.00

1 Bed

From$1,330

To$1,290

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,640

To$1,610

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$1,980

To$2,090

↑ $110

Pawtucket, RIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,350/mo

Lancaster, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/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 Pawtucket, RI

$5,662

Monthly in Lancaster, PA

$1,838

Difference

Home Values

Pawtucket

Lancaster

$383K

Median Value

$309K

↑ +1%

YoY Change

↑ +3.7%

↑ +49.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.3%

$379K - $387K

Price Range

$309K

Homes in Lancaster are 19% less expensive than Pawtucket

Calculate payment - Pawtucket Calculate payment - Lancaster

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.8K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$153

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.2%

Rate difference

Pawtucket, RI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Rhode Island State Tax

Effective: 4.3%

$6.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.0%

$43.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,879/month

$106.5K

Lancaster, 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

Pawtucket, RI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:1.4%

Lancaster, 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

Pawtucket

Lancaster

36 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

79.5%

Good Air Days

65.6%

94 Moderate

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

6 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

Before moving from Pawtucket, RI to Lancaster, PA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lancaster, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Pawtucket, RI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Pawtucket to Lancaster moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Pawtucket, RI vs Lancaster, PA

How do the cost estimates for Pawtucket, RI and Lancaster, PA compare?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 28.2% lower than Pawtucket, RI. 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 Pawtucket, RI, the model estimates $127,942 in Lancaster, 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 Pawtucket, RI and Lancaster, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,640/month in Pawtucket, RI and $1,610/month in Lancaster, 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Rhode Island and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com