Cost of Living in Scranton, PA
| Cost of Living in Scranton, PA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 28% lower | 32% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% lower | 2% higher |
| Food | 3% lower | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 18% lower | 16% lower |
| Transportation | - | 7% higher |
| Goods & Services | 4% lower | 0% |
The cost of living in Scranton, PA is 10% lower than the state average and 9% lower than the national average. Scranton, PA housing is 32% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 2% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Scranton, PA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 16% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 0% in Scranton, PA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Scranton is $1,486, while home prices circle around $275,932.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Scranton, energy bills cost around $211.32 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.59 in Scranton, a dozen eggs go for around $3.45 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.71.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Scranton, an optometry check-up costs around $67.67, while a dentist appointment is priced $105.81 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.54 in Scranton, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $67.04.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $49.86 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $33.91.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Scranton, you should budget around $12.13 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.33, while dry cleaning costs about $17.85.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Scranton, the median household income is $49,531.