City Comparison

Erie vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Erie

Pennsylvania
81
Very Affordable
$165,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$43,400
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

28.3%

Living in Erie costs 28.3% less than Roswell. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Erie, you would need $104,630 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Erie
187
Roswell
Groceries
97
Erie
101
Roswell
Utilities
109
Erie
98
Roswell
Transportation
113
Erie
110
Roswell
Healthcare
89
Erie
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Erie has the same purchasing power as $104,630 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $53,761 in Erie.

Living in Erie vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Erie's housing index of 55 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $647,000. The $482,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,332 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Erie compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $775.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Erie and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Erie vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Erie vs $392 in Roswell. 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 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $43,400 in Erie and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,580 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Erie, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 132 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Erie is 28.3% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Erie has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,630 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Erie's housing index is 55 with median homes at $165,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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