Last updated 2026-07-10 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Real four-season living and real jobs at a fraction of Philadelphia prices.
1. Pittsburgh: Best value overall
2. Erie: Best lakefront value
3. Harrisburg: Best for state jobs
4. Scranton: Cheapest northeast
5. Altoona: Cheapest overall
6. Reading: Best near Philadelphia
7. Johnstown: Best for low housing prices
8. State College: Best college-town value
Pennsylvania is far more affordable once you leave the Philadelphia suburbs. The center and west of the state are full of river cities, college towns, and former industrial hubs where housing costs a fraction of the coast. Here are the 8 cheapest places to live in Pennsylvania, ranked.