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 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Wilkes-Barre ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Wilkes-Barre ranks as the #220 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Wilkes-Barre, check out:
Wilkes-Barre Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilkes-Barre. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wilkes-Barre is 99.
The Groceries index in Wilkes-Barre is 97.
The Health index in Wilkes-Barre is 53.
The Housing index in Wilkes-Barre is 100.
The Transportation index in Wilkes-Barre is 100.
The Utilities index in Wilkes-Barre is 103.
| Living Expense | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 53 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Wilkes-Barre 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Wilkes-Barre is $172,140.
The Median Rent in Wilkes-Barre is $946.
The Median Income in Wilkes-Barre is $48,515.
The Home Value To Income in Wilkes-Barre is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilkes-Barre is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Wilkes-Barre | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $172,140 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $946 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $48,515 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 95, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
Dunmore, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
Kingston, PA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.1x Wilkes-Barre.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson, TN | 16,424 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Dunmore, PA | 14,181 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Kingston, PA | 13,397 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Mountain Top, PA | 11,850 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Old Forge, PA | 8,573 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,565 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Taylor, PA | 6,265 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Moosic, PA | 5,973 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Exeter, PA | 5,541 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Clarks Summit, PA | 5,073 | 100 | 1.2x |
