Cost of living in Norristown, PA

In Norristown, median rent is $1,569 a month, 1% above the U.S. average, and the monthly payment on a median-priced home is about $1,750 (36% below average). The average wage is $86,974 a year (17% above average). Of 29 everyday prices tracked here, 8 are above the national average.

Open the charts for Norristown →

The charts show each price back to 1950. Older local figures there are estimates.

How Norristown ranks

Among the 33 Pennsylvania places and the 16 places in the Philadelphia metro with at least 20,000 people:

Housing

Measured locally: Census Bureau figures for Norristown, PA.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
Monthly rentMedian rent including utilities$1,569$1,5601% more
Monthly mortgage paymentMedian home, 20% down, 30-yr fixed, with taxes and insurance$1,750$2,72136% less
Property taxAverage yearly bill on a single-family home$4,463$4,3802% more

Your paycheck

Measured locally: BLS average wages for Montgomery County.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
SalaryAverage yearly wage$86,974$74,40017% more
Payroll taxSocial Security and Medicare, employee share, yearly, on the average wage$6,653$5,69217% more

Getting around

Gas: EIA state or city averages. Car insurance: NAIC state averages. Parking, rides and transit passes are estimates.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
A monthly transit passUnlimited local bus or rail$106$106same as U.S.
Tank of gas15 gallons of regular unleaded$71.19$68.853% more
15-minute Uber rideTypical UberX fare, since the 2012 launch$29.46$29.50same as U.S.
Parking, per hourDowntown meter or garage$4.68$4.0516% more
Car insuranceAverage yearly premium$1,568$1,74010% less

Food and drink

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Philadelphia metro.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
A dozen eggsGrade A large, grocery store$3.80$3.80same as U.S.
A gallon of milkWhole milk, grocery store$4.15$4.15same as U.S.
Thanksgiving dinner for 10The Farm Bureau’s basket: turkey, sides and pie$55.85$55.90same as U.S.
Cup of coffeeBrewed coffee at a café or diner$3.45$3.45same as U.S.
Pint of domestic beerAt a bar or restaurant$7.29$7.30same as U.S.
Six-pack of domestic beer12 oz cans, grocery store$11.19$11.20same as U.S.
Big MacSandwich only; sold nationally since 1968$6.05$6.05same as U.S.
Ham & cheese sandwich groceries1 lb white bread, 1 lb sliced ham, 1 lb American cheese$13.59$13.60same as U.S.

Bills and fun

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Philadelphia metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
A movie ticketAverage admission, all showtimes$11.54$11.55same as U.S.
A haircutBasic cut at a barber or salon$39.13$34.0015% more
A pack of cigarettesPremium brand, including state taxes$8.64$8.65same as U.S.
A night in a hotelMid-range room, average nightly rate$141$16414% less
Home internet billMonthly; dial-up until the mid-2000s$76.97$77.00same as U.S.
Cable TV billMonthly expanded basic package$108$108same as U.S.
MLB game ticketAverage non-premium seat$43.45$39.5010% more

Health and family

Estimates: national prices scaled to regional price levels for the Philadelphia metro, and to local wages for some services.

ItemNorristownU.S. averageDifference
Daycare for one toddlerFull-time, licensed center, monthly$1,577$1,37015% more
A year of public universityIn-state tuition and fees, four-year public$11,795$11,800same as U.S.
Doctor’s visit, no insuranceRoutine office visit, paid out of pocket$194$194same as U.S.
Family health premiumEmployer plan, total monthly cost incl. employer share$2,239$2,240same as U.S.
Having a baby in hospitalUncomplicated delivery, billed charges$15,687$15,700same as U.S.
A weddingCeremony and reception, not counting the ring$37,484$34,7008% more

How these prices have changed since 1950, nationally: Daycare for one toddler · A year of public university · Family health premium · Having a baby in hospital · A wedding · A dozen eggs · A gallon of milk · Thanksgiving dinner for 10 · A movie ticket · A pack of cigarettes · A night in a hotel · Salary · Payroll tax · Big Mac · Ham & cheese sandwich groceries · Tank of gas · Car insurance · Monthly rent · Monthly mortgage payment · Property tax · Cable TV bill · MLB game ticket

Norristown vs nearby places

PlaceRentMortgage paymentAverage wage
Norristown, PA$1,569$1,750$86,974
Philadelphia, PA$1,543$1,989$81,840
Levittown, PA$1,718$2,792$63,910
Chester, PA$1,204$680$72,019
Drexel Hill, PA$1,498$2,180$72,019
King of Prussia, PA$2,293$3,567$86,974
Pottstown, PA$1,392$1,597$86,974

How these are worked out

Rent and home values are for Norristown, PA; other prices are for the Philadelphia metro. National prices are scaled to Norristown using local cost levels: rent, home values and property tax bills from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, wages from the BLS, gas from the EIA, car insurance from NAIC state averages, and other goods and services from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s regional price parities. Parking has no national source and is estimated from the town’s size and density. Figures are as of September 2026. More on the method.