PENNSYLVANIA — Families in Pennsylvania need to work an average of 19 days each month just to cover household bills, according to a new survey from Advance America. The findings highlight the mounting financial strain from rising grocery prices, utility costs, and other essentials.
The survey of 3,002 families compared household expenses to median income data from the County Health Rankings 2025 dataset. It found that Alabama households face the steepest burden, working 26 days to cover bills, while Colorado households average just 10 days.
When asked what they would cut first to stretch $1,000 further, nearly half of Pennsylvania families (47%) said dining out and takeout would be the first to go. Entertainment subscriptions came second at 26%, while groceries and utilities were far less likely to be sacrificed.
The heaviest burden came from grocery costs, with 56% of respondents citing food as their fastest-rising expense, followed by utilities at 17% and housing at 15%.
Generational comparisons revealed widespread pessimism. Nearly half (44%) said $1,000 buys much less today than it did for their parents at the same age, while only 19% felt it stretches further.
Emergency funds also split households between stability and strain. Just over half (51%) said they would rely on savings if faced with an urgent $1,000 expense, but others would turn to credit (17%), family or friends (19%), or extra work (13%).
“These results show just how differently families experience the cost of living. In some states, it takes nearly half the month’s work just to cover the bills, while in others it’s under a week. But everywhere, essentials like groceries and energy are the biggest strain,” said Laura McCutcheon, Vice President of Marketing at Advance America.
For Pennsylvanians, the data underscores a precarious balance: a market where basic living costs weigh more heavily than discretionary spending, leaving many households just a few paychecks away from financial vulnerability.
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