salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are short, about 17.7 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $36,240 a year. That is $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Pennsylvania. It is number 32 of 269 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Oil City?
Share of households by yearly income. 13.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Oil City
| Size | Oil City | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $538 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $580 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $895 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $997 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,173 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Oil City overall?
Everyday prices in Pennsylvania overall are 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Oil City, so the Pennsylvania figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Oil City
Life in Oil City
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oil City?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $392 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $74,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $7,410 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Oil City, PA?
Renting in Oil City costs a median of about $906 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Pennsylvania median is $1,367.
How much do I need to make to live in Oil City?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $36,240 a year, or $17 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Oil City cheap or expensive?
Oil City is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.6% of the typical household income of $55,344. It ranks 32nd cheapest of 269 Pennsylvania cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Oil City?
The median homeowner in Oil City pays $1,345 a year in property taxes, about 1.82% of the median home value.
Is Oil City more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Pennsylvania are 2% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Oil City?
The median home value in Oil City is $74,100, about 1.3 times the typical yearly household income.
9,468 people live in Oil City. Numbers are typical (middle) values.