Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Bucks County, PA would need to be about $37,340 in Lycoming County, PA, or $12,660 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Bucks County, PA vs Lycoming County, PA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Lycoming County, PA is cheaper than Bucks County, PA.
Moving to Lycoming County, PA is estimated to save $14,736 per year.
Cheaper County
Lycoming County, PASave about $14,736 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Bucks County, PA is about $37,340 in Lycoming County, PA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,148 per year. Housing saves $8,553 per year.
Housing: $8,553 lower in Lycoming County, PA
Taxes: $3,616 lower in Lycoming County, PA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,148 higher in Lycoming County, PA
Food: $415 lower in Lycoming County, PA
Transport: $515 lower in Lycoming County, PA
Bucks County, PA→Lycoming County, PA
Equivalent salary in Lycoming County, PA
$37,340
-25.32% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Bucks County, PA: $135,125
Median Income in Lycoming County, PA: $80,388
Living Index in Bucks County, PA 43.07%
Living Index in Lycoming County, PA 54.07%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Bucks County, PA to Lycoming County, PA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Bucks County, PA to Lycoming County, PA is estimated to save $14,736 per year. A $50,000 salary in Bucks County, PA would have similar purchasing power to about $37,340 in Lycoming County, PA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.32% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,553 per year lower (-48.04%); Taxes is $3,616 per year lower (-31.13%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Bucks County, PA and Lycoming County, PA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 43.1% of median family income in Bucks County, PA and 54.1% in Lycoming County, PA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,553 per year lower in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lycoming County, PA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $415 per year lower in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lycoming County, PA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $515 per year lower in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Lycoming County, PA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,148 per year higher in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lycoming County, PA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,785 per year lower in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lycoming County, PA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Bucks County, PA and Lycoming County, PA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lycoming County, PA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,616 per year lower in Lycoming County, PA than in Bucks County, PA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lycoming County, PA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Lycoming County, PA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lycoming County, PA
Annual Increase:
$1,148 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Lycoming County, PA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lycoming County, PA
Annual Savings:
$8,553 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lycoming County, PA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -48% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | -4% lower | |
| Healthcare | 30% higher | |
| Other Costs | -40% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -31% lower |
In Lycoming County, PA, modeled annual costs are $43,467 compared with $58,203 in Bucks County, PA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Lycoming County, PA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Lycoming County, PA and Bucks County, PA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
