New Castle, PA vs Oil City, PA

New Castle, PA and Oil City, PA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.6% difference in their overall index. New Castle scores 60 while Oil City scores 63 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in New Castle is $698/month compared to $799/month in Oil City — a 13% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while New Castle has cheaper rent, Oil City actually has lower median home values ($66,600 vs $72,000).

Median household income in New Castle is $41,478 compared to $52,688 in Oil City (-21.3%). While Oil City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of New Castle spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, more than the 18.2% in Oil City.