Scranton, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Scranton, PA Summary

Cost of living in Scranton research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Scranton is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Scranton is 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Scranton is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Scranton ranks as the #86 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • Scranton ranks as the #2,290 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Scranton is $112,600.

  • The median income in Scranton is $44,161.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Scranton's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

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 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Scranton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.

The standard of living in Scranton ranks as #86 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Scranton ranks as the #161 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Scranton, check out:

86 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
2,290 out of 6,412
In America

Scranton Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Scranton. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Scranton is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Scranton is 108.

  • The Health index in Scranton is 93.

  • The Housing index in Scranton is 63.

  • The Transportation index in Scranton is 112.

  • The Utilities index in Scranton is 110.

Living Expense Scranton Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 94 97 100
Services 100 99 100
Groceries 108 101 100
Health 93 97 100
Housing 63 85 100
Transportation 112 105 100
Utilities 110 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Scranton Cost of Living Vs. PA

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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Scranton is $112,600.

  • The Median Rent in Scranton is $842.

  • The Median Income in Scranton is $44,161.

  • The Home Value To Income in Scranton is 2.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Scranton is 0.23x.

Statistic Scranton Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $112,600 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $842 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $44,161 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.5x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Scranton, PA
$112,600
Median Home Value
$842
Median Rent
$44,161
Median Income

Scranton, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Scranton Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Scranton Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.1 $1.06
Movie $10.58 $10.68
Bowling $16.34 $14.67
Haircut $14.89 $18.62
Beauty Salon $32.72 $39.05

Detailed Scranton Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Scranton Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $4.14 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.61 $1.39
Milk $2.07 $2.05
Potatoes $3.78 $3.29
Pizza $9.31 $10.62
Beer $9.83 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.18 $2.34

Detailed Scranton Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Scranton Pennsylvania
Optometrist $59.08 $108.57
Doctor $78.28 $116.17
Dentist $108.44 $99.13

Detailed Scranton Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Scranton Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.56 $2.22
Tire Balancing $51.69 $50.07

Detailed Scranton Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Scranton Pennsylvania
All Electricity $189.4 $167.67
Phone $189.07 $175.64

Scranton SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
7
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
6
Commute
8.5

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 92, 1.0x Scranton.

  • Dunmore, PA has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Scranton.

  • Kingston, PA has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Scranton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Scranton
Dickson, TN 15,855 92 1.0x
Dunmore, PA 14,009 100 1.1x
Kingston, PA 13,304 95 1.0x
Old Forge, PA 8,494 95 1.0x
Archbald, PA 7,295 95 1.0x
Blakely, PA 6,640 96 1.0x
Taylor, PA 6,281 95 1.0x
Moosic, PA 5,937 95 1.0x
Olyphant, PA 5,359 97 1.0x
Swoyersville, PA 5,020 92 1.0x

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