Melrose Park, PA vs Red Lion, PA

The cost of living difference between Melrose Park, PA and Red Lion, PA is dramatic. Red Lion is 60% cheaper than Melrose Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Melrose Park has a cost index of 119 while Red Lion sits at 74, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Melrose Park is $1,661/month compared to $863/month in Red Lion — a 93% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Red Lion is more affordable at $172,000 median vs $427,400.

Median household income in Melrose Park is $154,946 compared to $63,672 in Red Lion (+143.4%). While Melrose Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Melrose Park spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, less than the 16.3% in Red Lion.