Reading, PA vs Scranton, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Scranton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than Reading, PA.

Reading, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,500 / month
Scranton, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,280 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Reading, PA and Scranton, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Reading, PA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $212/month in Scranton, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $152,541 in Scranton, PA

Regional cost estimates: Reading, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Scranton, PA uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.1%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$212

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Reading, PA

Population:95K

Cost Index:

94.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$173K

Scranton, PA

Population:76K

Cost Index:

97.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$192K

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Reading, PA

The Keystone State

95K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 95K residents.

Scranton, PA

The Keystone State

76K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 76K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Reading, PA vs Scranton, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Reading, PA	Scranton, PA	Difference	Change
Other	$1,733/mo	$1,912/mo	↑ $179more	10.3%
Transportation	$1,388/mo	$1,509/mo	↑ $121more	8.7%
Housing	$2,033/mo	$1,921/mo	↓ $113less	5.5%
Healthcare	$614/mo	$684/mo	↑ $69.70more	11.3%
Groceries	$1,117/mo	$1,093/mo	↓ $23.91less	2.1%
All Utilities	$614/mo	$592/mo	↓ $21.28less	3.5%

Other

↑ 10.3%

Reading, PA

$1,733

Scranton, PA

$1,912

Difference

$179

Transportation

↑ 8.7%

Reading, PA

$1,388

Scranton, PA

$1,509

Difference

$121

Housing

↓ 5.5%

Reading, PA

$2,033

Scranton, PA

$1,921

Difference

$113

less

Healthcare

↑ 11.3%

Reading, PA

$614

Scranton, PA

$684

Difference

$69.70

Groceries

↓ 2.1%

Reading, PA

$1,117

Scranton, PA

$1,093

Difference

$23.91

less

All Utilities

↓ 3.5%

Reading, PA

$614

Scranton, PA

$592

Difference

$21.28

less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Reading, PA: Reading Earned Income Tax$4,650/yr (3.1%)

Scranton, PA: Scranton Earned Income Tax$5,100/yr (3.4%)

Net difference+$450/yr

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,030

To$885

↓ $145

1 Bed

From$1,180

To$1,050

↓ $130

2 Bed

From$1,500

To$1,280

↓ $220

3 Bed

From$1,840

To$1,665

↓ $175

Reading, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,080–$1,370/mo

Scranton, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,090/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Reading, PA

$7,712

Monthly in Scranton, PA

$212

Difference

Home Values

Reading

Scranton

$173K

Median Value

$192K

↑ +5.2%

YoY Change

↑ +5.7%

↑ +70.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +59.6%

$135K - $285K

Price Range

$165K - $208K

Homes in Scranton are 11% more expensive than Reading

Calculate payment - Reading Calculate payment - Scranton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Reading, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Scranton, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Reading, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

Scranton, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Reading

Scranton

52 Moderate

Air Quality

N/A

47.3%

Good Air Days

100 Very High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from Reading, PA to Scranton, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Scranton, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Reading, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Reading to Scranton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Scranton, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Reading, PA vs Scranton, PA

How do the cost estimates for Reading, PA and Scranton, PA compare?

Scranton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 3.1% higher than Reading, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Reading, PA, the model estimates $152,541 in Scranton, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Reading, PA and Scranton, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,500/month in Reading, PA and $1,280/month in Scranton, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.