Philadelphia and Pittsburgh pull the state average up — here's where Pennsylvania renters find real savings.
Pennsylvania's rental map still follows its old industrial lines, and once you know that, the pricing pattern makes a lot more sense. Philadelphia and, to a smaller degree, Pittsburgh carry the state average toward $1,500. The Rust Belt corridor — Erie, Scranton, Johnstown — never got that memo.
Older housing stock that's grown faster than population demand keeps rent low across most of the state's smaller cities. That's not a trend that's reversing anytime soon, from what I've seen tracking these markets year over year.
Nothing below is a live listing — this is a map of where affordability actually lives, so a Zillow or Apartments.com search starts in the right region.
Lake Erie's northwest corner, and some of the lowest rents among the state's mid-sized cities — $800–$950 is typical. Housing supply has genuinely outpaced demand here in recent years.
The cheapest entry on this list, full stop. Former steel town in the Laurel Highlands, plenty of units under $800. Not glamorous. Extremely cheap.
Well below Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, typically $900–$1,050. Healthcare and education sectors give it a steadier job base than the rent price alone would suggest.
Just south of Scranton in the Wyoming Valley. Comparable affordability, smaller rental market — listings that are priced well move fast here, faster than in Scranton proper.
Sits between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, which makes it workable for renters commuting to either. Rent runs $950–$1,100, meaningfully below the eastern Pennsylvania average.
Central Pennsylvania, low cost of living overall, rent among the lowest of any city its size in the state — usually $850–$975.
Largest city in the Lehigh Valley. Pricier than everything above, $1,150–$1,300, but still a real discount versus Philadelphia, especially outside the downtown core.
State capital, steady government employment, rent well below Philadelphia's at $1,050–$1,200 — cheaper still in the neighborhoods just outside the core.
Short commute to both Harrisburg and Lancaster, rent comfortably below the state average around $1,000–$1,150.
A bit pricier than the towns above thanks to a growing arts and food scene, but still considerably cheaper than Philadelphia. $1,150–$1,300 range, more amenities for the money.
Here's the thing nobody mentions when they quote you a low rent number in Scranton or Erie: older buildings cost more to heat, full stop. I've talked to renters who saved $300 a month on rent moving from Philadelphia to a Rust Belt city and then handed half of it right back in January heating bills. Ask for a typical winter utility bill before you sign — not after.
Renters insurance across Pennsylvania typically runs $12–$18 a month, cheap enough that I'd never skip it given how much older housing stock is common across this list.
Philadelphia rowhouses look like a bargain on paper, and sometimes they are. Older units, though, especially anything pre-1978, can come with lead paint disclosures, shared wall insulation issues, and heating bills that run $40–$70 higher in January than a comparable newer unit. That's not a dealbreaker. It's just math you should do before you fall for the exposed brick.
Ask for a winter utility estimate from the current tenant if you can. Most landlords won't offer it unprompted — most renters don't think to ask.
Pittsburgh's newer high-rises largely dodge this problem, which is part of why rent there has crept up faster than the rest of the state's smaller cities. Trade-offs, always trade-offs.
Pennsylvania's affordability lives well outside its two biggest cities — Erie, Scranton, and Johnstown offer some of the lowest rents in the entire Northeast. Lancaster and Allentown split the difference, a bit more expensive but with more built-in amenities for the money.
My advice, for what it's worth: don't compare a listing here to Philadelphia rent and call it a deal. Compare it to what similar units cost in the same city last year — that's the number that actually tells you something.
Johnstown and Erie consistently rank among the most affordable rental markets in the state, with typical units under $950 a month.
Generally further west and north — cities like Reading, Scranton, and Erie rent for substantially less than Philadelphia and its immediate suburbs.
Often yes. Older buildings common in Rust Belt cities can carry noticeably higher winter heating costs, so it's worth asking landlords for a typical bill before signing.
Often yes — pre-1978 rowhouses can run $40 to $70 higher in winter heating costs than newer units, so it's worth asking landlords for a past tenant's utility estimate.
This site is for general informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or insurance advice. Confirm current rates, coverage, and lease terms directly with landlords, property managers, and licensed insurance providers.