York, PA vs Scranton, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Scranton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than York, PA.

York, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,245 / 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 York, 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 York, PA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $315/month in Scranton, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,220 in Scranton, PA

Regional cost estimates: York, PA uses Baltimore, MD. Scranton, PA uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$315

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.8K

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.

York, PA

Population:45K

Cost Index:

98.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$193K

Scranton, PA

Population:76K

Cost Index:

97.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$192K

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York, PA

The Keystone State

45K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 45K 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: York, 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	York, PA	Scranton, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,547/mo	$1,790/mo	↓ $758less	29.7%
Other	$1,550/mo	$1,782/mo	↑ $232more	15.0%
Transportation	$1,252/mo	$1,406/mo	↑ $153more	12.3%
Healthcare	$554/mo	$637/mo	↑ $83.23more	15.0%
All Utilities	$571/mo	$552/mo	↓ $19.04less	3.3%
Groceries	$1,025/mo	$1,019/mo	↓ $6.74less	0.7%

Housing

↓ 29.7%

York, PA

$2,547

Scranton, PA

$1,790

Difference

$758

less

Other

↑ 15.0%

York, PA

$1,550

Scranton, PA

$1,782

Difference

$232

Transportation

↑ 12.3%

York, PA

$1,252

Scranton, PA

$1,406

Difference

$153

Healthcare

↑ 15.0%

York, PA

$554

Scranton, PA

$637

Difference

$83.23

All Utilities

↓ 3.3%

York, PA

$571

Scranton, PA

$552

Difference

$19.04

less

Groceries

↓ 0.7%

York, PA

$1,025

Scranton, PA

$1,019

Difference

$6.74

less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

York, PA: York 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$875

To$885

↑ $10.00

1 Bed

From$995

To$1,050

↑ $55.00

2 Bed

From$1,245

To$1,280

↑ $35.00

3 Bed

From$1,680

To$1,665

↓ $15.00

York, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$1,020/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 York, PA

$7,185

Monthly in Scranton, PA

$315

Difference

Home Values

York

Scranton

$193K

Median Value

$192K

↑ +6.2%

YoY Change

↑ +5.7%

↑ +69%

5-Year Change

↑ +59.6%

$141K - $244K

Price Range

$165K - $208K

Calculate payment - York 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

York, 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

York, 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

York

Scranton

45 Good

Air Quality

N/A

65.6%

Good Air Days

95 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+3.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from York, 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 York, 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 York 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: York, PA vs Scranton, PA

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

Scranton, PA has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than York, 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 York, PA, the model estimates $146,220 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 York, PA and Scranton, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,245/month in York, 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.