City Comparison

Erie vs Springdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Erie

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

Springdale

Arkansas
87
Below Average
$299,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$62,100
Median Income

The Verdict

6.9%

Erie is 6.9% less expensive than Springdale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Erie would need approximately $80,556 in Springdale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Erie
86
Springdale
Groceries
97
Erie
97
Springdale
Utilities
109
Erie
93
Springdale
Transportation
113
Erie
91
Springdale
Healthcare
89
Erie
82
Springdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Erie has the same purchasing power as $80,556 in Springdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springdale equals $69,828 in Erie.

Living in Erie vs Springdale

Housing Costs

Erie's housing index of 55 is lower Springdale's 86, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $299,000. The $134,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,712 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Erie compared to $1,000/mo in Springdale, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Erie and 97 in Springdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Erie vs $461/month in Springdale. 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 93 in Springdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $436 in Erie vs $372 in Springdale. 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 82 in Springdale. 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 $62,100 in Springdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $53,580 and $71,379 respectively. Springdale 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 $1,449/month in Springdale. In Erie, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Springdale, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Erie is 6.9% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in Erie has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $80,556 in Springdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Erie's housing index is 55 with median homes at $165,000, while Springdale's is 86 with median homes at $299,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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