Erie vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Erie
Lakewood
The Verdict
Erie is 39.1% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Erie would need approximately $123,148 in Lakewood to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Erie has the same purchasing power as $123,148 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $45,677 in Erie.
Living in Erie vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Erie's housing index of 55 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $574,000. The $409,000 difference in home prices means roughly $26,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Erie compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Erie and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Erie vs $480/month in Lakewood. 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 109 in Erie and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Erie vs $340 in Lakewood. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 89 in Erie and 84 in Lakewood. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,400 in Erie and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,580 and $63,008 respectively. Lakewood residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,013/month to housing in Erie vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Erie, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 133 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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