Smethport, PA vs Port Carbon, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Port Carbon, PA has a modeled overall cost index 7.8% higher than Smethport, PA.

Smethport, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Port Carbon, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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 Smethport, PA and Port Carbon, 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: $622/month in Port Carbon, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,465 in Port Carbon, PA

Regional cost estimates: Smethport, PA uses Pittsburgh, PA. Port Carbon, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$622
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.5K
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.

Smethport, PA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$116K

Port Carbon, PA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
81.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$121K

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Smethport, PA

The Keystone State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Port Carbon, PA

The Keystone State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Smethport, PA vs Port Carbon, 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
↑ 12.5%
Smethport, PA
$1,913
Port Carbon, PA
$2,152
Difference
$239
more
Transportation
↑ 10.8%
Smethport, PA
$1,326
Port Carbon, PA
$1,469
Difference
$143
more
Groceries
↑ 8.7%
Smethport, PA
$1,169
Port Carbon, PA
$1,270
Difference
$101
more
Other
↑ 4.7%
Smethport, PA
$1,753
Port Carbon, PA
$1,835
Difference
$81.76
more
Healthcare
↑ 12.3%
Smethport, PA
$622
Port Carbon, PA
$699
Difference
$76.24
more
All Utilities
↓ 2.6%
Smethport, PA
$717
Port Carbon, PA
$698
Difference
$18.92
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$710
To$720
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$840
To$780
↓ $60.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$1,020
↑ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,330
↑ $100
Smethport, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$840/mo

Port Carbon, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Smethport, PA
$8,122
Monthly in Port Carbon, PA
$622
Difference

Home Values

Smethport
Port Carbon
$116K
Median Value
$121K
↓ -0.2%
YoY Change
↓ -2%
↑ +6.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +39.9%

Homes in Port Carbon are 5% more expensive than Smethport

Calculate payment - SmethportCalculate payment - Port Carbon

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

Smethport, 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

Port Carbon, 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

Smethport, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Port Carbon, 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

Smethport
Port Carbon
52 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
47.8%
Good Air Days
47.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
12 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days

Before moving from Smethport, PA to Port Carbon, 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 Port Carbon, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Smethport, 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 Smethport to Port Carbon moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Smethport, PA vs Port Carbon, PA

How do the cost estimates for Smethport, PA and Port Carbon, PA compare?

Port Carbon, PA has a modeled overall cost index 7.8% higher than Smethport, 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 Smethport, PA, the model estimates $157,465 in Port Carbon, 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 Smethport, PA and Port Carbon, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Smethport, PA and $1,020/month in Port Carbon, 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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