What is the cost of living in Scranton, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Scranton has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Scranton has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Scranton ranks as #54 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Scranton ranks as the #199 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Scranton, check out:
Scranton Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Scranton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Scranton is 103.
The Groceries index in Scranton is 99.
The Health index in Scranton is 66.
The Housing index in Scranton is 98.
The Transportation index in Scranton is 104.
The Utilities index in Scranton is 103.
| Living Expense | Scranton | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Scranton Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Scranton, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Scranton is $181,950.
The Median Rent in Scranton is $1,048.
The Median Income in Scranton is $50,739.
The Home Value To Income in Scranton is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Scranton is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Scranton | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $181,950 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,048 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $50,739 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Scranton, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Scranton Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.45 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $32.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Scranton Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.36 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.54 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.68 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.29 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.6 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.68 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Scranton Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $72.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $93.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.18 | $113.29 |
Detailed Scranton Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.74 | $59.92 |
Detailed Scranton Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $207.13 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.27 | $192.25 |
Scranton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Scranton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Scranton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dickson, TN has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Scranton.
Dunmore, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Scranton.
Kingston, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Scranton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson, TN | 16,424 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Dunmore, PA | 14,181 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Kingston, PA | 13,397 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Old Forge, PA | 8,573 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Archbald, PA | 7,404 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Blakely, PA | 6,662 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Taylor, PA | 6,265 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Moosic, PA | 5,973 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Olyphant, PA | 5,381 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Clarks Summit, PA | 5,073 | 100 | 1.1x |
