Is $59,000 a good salary in Pennsylvania?

$59,000 in Pennsylvania provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,975 after taxes. Across major Pennsylvania cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,764.

What is the cost of living on $59,000 in Pennsylvania?

The average monthly living cost across major Pennsylvania cities is approximately $2,211 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $59,000 take-home pay of $3,975/month, you would have roughly $1,764/month remaining.

Living in Pennsylvania · 2026

Is $59,000 enough to live in Pennsylvania?

Single adult · PA · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,975

Avg monthly expenses

$2,211

Avg monthly surplus

$1,764

Savings potential

~44%

After-tax take-home in Pennsylvania

Gross salary$59,000

Federal income tax− $4,974

State income tax− $1,811

Social Security− $3,658

Medicare− $856

Annual take-home$47,701

Effective tax rate19.15%

How $59,000 feels in Pennsylvania cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Philadelphia

COL index: 1.33× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,800

Food

$519

Transport

$233

Utilities

$219

Healthcare

$266

Total: $3,037/mo

Surplus: $938/mo

Rent burden: 45.3% — High (35–50%)

Full Philadelphia analysis →

Pittsburgh

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,323/mo

Surplus: $1,652/mo

Rent burden: 32.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Pittsburgh analysis →

Allentown

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$449

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,305/mo

Surplus: $1,670/mo

Rent burden: 32.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Allentown analysis →

Erie

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $2,179/mo

Rent burden: 23.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Erie analysis →

Reading

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$405

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,007/mo

Surplus: $1,968/mo

Rent burden: 27.7% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Reading analysis →

Scranton

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $2,179/mo

Rent burden: 23.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Scranton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,975 ($47,700/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,988

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,193

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$795

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$23,850

Wants / year

$14,310

Savings / year

$9,540

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Philadelphia

Rent would consume 45% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.7/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $59,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with approximately $938/month (~24% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Philadelphia's above-average cost of living (index: 1.33) means $59,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $44,361 in an average-cost US city, or $52,346 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$59,000 is 36% above the Pennsylvania individual median ($43,300) and 5% above the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$43,300

+36%

State household median

$74,660

-21%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$59,000 vs. Pennsylvania income benchmarks

Individual median (Pennsylvania)

$43,300

+36% vs. this salary

Household median (Pennsylvania)

$74,660

-21% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Pennsylvania

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.