Cost of Living in Scranton PA: What Housing and Rent Cost
Scranton's living costs run below the national average, but home prices and rents vary by source and date. Here is what drives the numbers.
The cost of living in Scranton, PA is about 11% below the national average. One index puts the gap at 11% [1], and another puts it at 10.8% [2], so roughly 11% is a fair working figure for your planning.
The gap is easiest to see in a basket of everyday needs. For every $100 of necessities, residents pay about $91.90, based on November 2024 data [3]. If your current city charges $100 for the same goods, Scranton would take about $8 less out of each $100 you spend.
The rest of this article breaks down home prices, rents by apartment size, the income you need, and other monthly costs.
Which costs push Scranton's living expenses up or down?
The home price and rent figures for Scranton differ mainly because each index uses its own method and date. No single figure is the correct one, so compare numbers only when they share a source, a date and a unit size.
The home price gap is the largest difference in the table, and the two rent measures cover different things.
Why the home prices differ
A median is the middle value of all the sales in the data, so half of the homes sold for more and half for less.
That home price is much higher than the association's median. The gap likely reflects a different method, a different date or a different mix of homes.
Why the rent figures do not match
Because a one-bedroom price is not the same as a median across all rentals, do not put these numbers side by side as if they answer the same question. Pick one source, one date and one unit size, and use it for every comparison you make. That gives you a fair test of your own budget.
What income do you need to live comfortably in Scranton?
A single adult needs about $32,400 a year to live comfortably in Scranton, according to one cost estimate. [4] For a family, that same estimate recommends a minimum annual income of $25,920. [4] Use these two figures as your first test before you look at neighborhoods.
Test the thresholds against take-home pay
Start with take-home pay, the amount that reaches your bank account after taxes and deductions. Gross salary makes a budget look larger than it is, so compare the thresholds with net income instead.
For example, if your take-home pay is $2,300 a month, that comes to about $27,600 a year. If two adults share the household, add both net paychecks before you compare.
What the city medians show
The median household income in Scranton is $49,534, and the median home value is $138,998. [5] A household earning the median has more room above the single-person threshold than one earner on a similar salary, so the median gives you a citywide reference point.
A median is the middle value across the city, not the price of any one house. Use it to judge the general market, then compare listings in the neighborhoods you are considering.
Put your numbers side by side
Divide each annual threshold by twelve to get a monthly target. Then subtract your housing payment, car costs, food, insurance and debt payments from your monthly take-home pay. If the amount left over covers the monthly target with room to spare, the income thresholds fit your situation.
If the numbers come up short, the rent and home price sections show what you would need to change.
How much does rent cost in Scranton by apartment size?
One-bedroom rents depend on the neighborhood
A one-bedroom apartment in Scranton's city center averages about $1,251.67 a month. [6] Outside the city center, a one-bedroom averages about $1,024.00 a month. [6]
For many renters, that gap decides where to search first. If your budget is tight, a one-bedroom just outside the center may fit where a downtown unit would not. Compare listings in both areas before you choose.
Larger apartments are listed separately
The same index also lists a three-bedroom apartment in the city center as its own figure. [6] Do not assume one-bedroom prices scale up in a straight line. Look at the three-bedroom line directly, then compare it with your monthly budget.
Families should start with that three-bedroom figure and then check neighborhoods outside the center, where the one-bedroom averages run lower. [6] Suppose you need a three-bedroom and your budget covers a one-bedroom downtown; you will need to widen the search to other areas.
A typical rent range for the whole city
Rentals make up a large share of local housing. A cost-of-living profile reports that 38.2% of Scranton housing is rented. [2] That means many households in the city are renters, so the rent range below affects a large part of the market. To go further, see Cost of Living in Appleton, WI: Housing, Taxes and Daily Costs.
The same profile gives a typical rent range of $1,249 to $1,552 a month. [2] Ask why it is priced that way before you decide.
When you compare units, ask each landlord for the current rent, the lease length, and whether utilities are included.
What costs beyond rent and the home price should you plan for?
Beyond rent or a mortgage, the costs you should plan for first are utilities and your phone bill. The index used here puts the average phone bill at about $206.79 per month [1]. For a household budget, that is a real monthly cost you can add to your rent or payment before you choose a place. For the next step, see Cost of Living in Lexington, KY: Housing and Budget Costs.
Energy and utilities
The same index also lists average energy costs for Scranton [1]. Heating and electricity can vary a lot from one home to the next, depending on the home's size, insulation, and heating type. Ask the landlord or seller for recent utility bills for the specific address, so you are not relying only on an area average.
Set up a separate line in your budget for each utility, then add the phone bill as a fixed monthly cost. Your monthly total will then show what the home costs to run, not just the rent or payment.
Property taxes
If you buy, property taxes are a separate yearly cost that depends on the specific property. Check property tax rates and exemptions on the official Lackawanna County and City of Scranton websites. Look for any exemptions you may qualify for, since they can lower the amount you owe each year.
Compare the tax bill for each home you are considering. Two homes at similar prices can carry different tax bills, so the tax matters as much as the sale price.
Before you sign
Before you sign a lease or accept a mortgage quote, get the exact monthly amounts in writing. The figures in this article are averages from an index, not offers, so your actual costs depend on the unit, the lender, and the landlord. Read the total monthly figure in the paperwork, not just the rent or the rate, and ask about any fees that are not listed.
How should you read these numbers before you move?
Scranton's living costs run about 11% below the national average, and two indexes agree closely on that gap [1][2]. Remember that housing figures shift with the source, the date and the neighborhood, so averages are a starting point, not your bill.
Your next step is to test your own budget. BestPlaces puts the recommended comfortable minimum at $32,400 a year for a single person and $25,920 a year for a family [4]. Set that against your take-home pay to see what you can afford.
Rents typically fall between $1,249 and $1,552 a month, according to Apartments.com [2]. Put that range next to your monthly budget to see whether a Scranton lease fits.