Chester, PA vs St. Marys, PA

St. Marys is moderately more affordable than Chester, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 76 compared to 68 for St. Marys, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chester can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $1,080/month compared to $756/month in St. Marys — a 43% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Marys has cheaper rent, Chester actually has lower median home values ($85,400 vs $143,900).

Median household income in Chester is $39,809 compared to $64,471 in St. Marys (-38.3%). St. Marys offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 32.6% of their income on rent, more than the 14.1% in St. Marys. The St. Marys ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.