Wilkes-Barre, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Wilkes-Barre, PA Summary
Cost of living in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre is 84, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Wilkes-Barre is 0.8x lower than the national average.
Wilkes-Barre ranks as the #12 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Wilkes-Barre ranks as the #406 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Wilkes-Barre is $174,331.
The median income in Wilkes-Barre is $47,970.
Table Of Contents
Wilkes-Barre's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Wilkes-Barre, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wilkes-Barre has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in Wilkes-Barre ranks as #12 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Wilkes-Barre ranks as the #243 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Wilkes-Barre, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Wilkes-Barre Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilkes-Barre. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wilkes-Barre is 97.
The Groceries index in Wilkes-Barre is 101.
The Health index in Wilkes-Barre is 90.
The Housing index in Wilkes-Barre is 51.
The Transportation index in Wilkes-Barre is 110.
The Utilities index in Wilkes-Barre is 104.
| Living Expense | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 97 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 101 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 90 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 51 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 110 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 104 | 108 | 100 | |
Wilkes-Barre, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Wilkes-Barre is $174,331.
The Median Rent in Wilkes-Barre is $939.
The Median Income in Wilkes-Barre is $47,970.
The Home Value To Income in Wilkes-Barre is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilkes-Barre is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $174,331 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $939 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $47,970 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Wilkes-Barre, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Wilkes-Barre Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $9.9 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.39 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.86 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $36.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Wilkes-Barre Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.53 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.36 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.88 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $13.28 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Wilkes-Barre Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $83.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.97 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.14 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wilkes-Barre Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.69 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $67.65 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wilkes-Barre Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $207.34 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.27 | $192.25 |
Wilkes-Barre SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wilkes-Barre
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wilkes-Barre. 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, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
Dunmore, PA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
Kingston, PA has a cost of living index of 91, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson, TN | 16,246 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Dunmore, PA | 14,123 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Kingston, PA | 13,333 | 91 | 1.1x |
| Mountain Top, PA | 11,856 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Old Forge, PA | 8,533 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,511 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Taylor, PA | 6,261 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Moosic, PA | 5,954 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Exeter, PA | 5,514 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Clarks Summit, PA | 5,058 | 99 | 1.2x |
