City Comparison

Beaumont vs Lancaster

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Lancaster

Pennsylvania
100
Average
$225,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$63,700
Median Income

The Verdict

22.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.0%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $96,154 in Lancaster.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
67
Lancaster
Groceries
96
Beaumont
97
Lancaster
Utilities
102
Beaumont
110
Lancaster
Transportation
93
Beaumont
110
Lancaster
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
94
Lancaster

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $96,154 in Lancaster.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lancaster equals $58,500 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Lancaster

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is higher Lancaster's 67, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $225,000. The $59,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,840 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,175/mo in Lancaster, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 97 in Lancaster. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $461/month in Lancaster. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 110 in Lancaster. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $440 in Lancaster. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 94 in Lancaster. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $63,700 in Lancaster. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $63,700 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,486/month in Lancaster. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Lancaster, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 22.0% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,154 in Lancaster, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Lancaster's is 67 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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