Pittsburgh, PA vs Scranton, PA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Scranton, PA is 1.2% less expensive than Pittsburgh, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Pittsburgh works out to about $74,100 in Scranton, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 6.9% less in Scranton. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,362 a month in Scranton and $1,467 in Pittsburgh, $1,260 a year less in Scranton (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $234,000 in Scranton and $228,000 in Pittsburgh.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 6.9% lower in Scranton than in Pittsburgh
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
All items Pittsburgh, PA: 94.7 Scranton, PA: 93.6
Goods Pittsburgh, PA: 100.7 Scranton, PA: 100.7
Housing (rents) Pittsburgh, PA: 72.0 Scranton, PA: 67.0
Utilities Pittsburgh, PA: 107.7 Scranton, PA: 106.5
Other services Pittsburgh, PA: 97.7 Scranton, PA: 97.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | 93.6 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 67.0 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 106.5 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Category | Pittsburgh | Scranton | Scranton vs Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | 93.6 | −1.2% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 72.0 | 67.0 | −6.9% |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 106.5 | −1.1% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,467 | $1,362 | −7.2% |
| Typical home value | $228,000 | $234,000 | +2.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Pittsburgh | $75,000 | $74,100 | −1.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Pittsburgh and Scranton has narrowed since 2008: 2.7 points then, 1.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.4 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 93.1 | 96.0 |
| 2010 | 94.3 | 94.1 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 94.7 |
| 2012 | 95.5 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 94.4 | 94.6 |
| 2014 | 94.4 | 91.5 |
| 2015 | 95.0 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 93.9 | 94.8 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 92.9 |
| 2019 | 95.3 | 92.9 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 93.1 |
| 2021 | 94.8 | 93.1 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 91.9 |
| 2023 | 94.7 | 93.4 |
| 2024 | 94.7 | 93.6 |
Goods
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.0 | 101.0 |
| 2009 | 94.3 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 97.1 | 97.8 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 98.6 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 97.9 |
| 2015 | 102.6 | 99.3 |
| 2016 | 100.5 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 102.3 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 73.9 | 66.5 |
| 2009 | 75.0 | 69.3 |
| 2010 | 74.3 | 67.9 |
| 2011 | 76.2 | 72.4 |
| 2012 | 75.1 | 70.9 |
| 2013 | 76.1 | 69.3 |
| 2014 | 75.1 | 62.6 |
| 2015 | 75.9 | 73.6 |
| 2016 | 76.8 | 70.9 |
| 2017 | 75.4 | 66.5 |
| 2018 | 75.3 | 63.2 |
| 2019 | 76.9 | 66.0 |
| 2020 | 76.7 | 67.0 |
| 2021 | 75.3 | 68.5 |
| 2022 | 74.0 | 65.0 |
| 2023 | 72.6 | 68.9 |
| 2024 | 72.0 | 67.0 |
Utilities
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.5 | 113.1 |
| 2009 | 113.6 | 116.8 |
| 2010 | 108.0 | 110.2 |
| 2011 | 110.4 | 112.3 |
| 2012 | 109.0 | 106.4 |
| 2013 | 111.0 | 106.0 |
| 2014 | 95.2 | 104.5 |
| 2015 | 105.7 | 103.9 |
| 2016 | 107.3 | 106.8 |
| 2017 | 108.4 | 111.4 |
| 2018 | 114.7 | 115.1 |
| 2019 | 116.3 | 115.8 |
| 2020 | 112.7 | 111.5 |
| 2021 | 110.5 | 110.3 |
| 2022 | 111.0 | 109.8 |
| 2023 | 117.6 | 116.4 |
| 2024 | 107.7 | 106.5 |
Other services
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.8 | 101.1 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 98.8 |
| 2012 | 99.3 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 94.7 | 101.0 |
| 2017 | 96.1 | 102.5 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,362 in Scranton vs $1,467 in Pittsburgh
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $947 | $734 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $962 | $740 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $955 | $748 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $953 | $759 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $979 | $749 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $980 | $766 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $969 | $773 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $956 | $764 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $987 | $776 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $999 | $783 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $995 | $798 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $993 | $812 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,017 | $799 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,031 | $822 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,026 | $832 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,034 | $842 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,054 | $848 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,064 | $876 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,067 | $872 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,079 | $874 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,098 | $880 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,099 | $917 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,108 | $934 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,106 | $963 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,125 | $997 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,160 | $1,042 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,188 | $1,069 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,196 | $1,090 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,218 | $1,131 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,250 | $1,153 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,271 | $1,180 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,261 | $1,171 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,279 | $1,180 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,301 | $1,205 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,308 | $1,217 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,312 | $1,223 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,330 | $1,238 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,353 | $1,251 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,366 | $1,273 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,364 | $1,280 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,382 | $1,296 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,410 | $1,296 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,417 | $1,310 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,418 | $1,320 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,436 | $1,345 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,461 | $1,347 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,467 | $1,362 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $234,000 in Scranton vs $228,000 in Pittsburgh
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $138K | $125K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $141K | $127K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $143K | $128K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $144K | $130K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $145K | $131K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $146K | $129K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $147K | $129K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $149K | $129K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $150K | $128K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $151K | $128K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $153K | $129K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $155K | $133K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $157K | $137K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $159K | $139K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $161K | $139K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $161K | $138K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $163K | $140K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $165K | $142K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $167K | $145K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $169K | $147K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $172K | $150K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $174K | $152K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $178K | $154K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $186K | $163K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $194K | $171K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $202K | $176K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $203K | $181K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $202K | $185K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $209K | $191K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $215K | $196K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $212K | $195K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $210K | $194K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $208K | $199K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $212K | $200K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $217K | $203K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $218K | $205K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $220K | $210K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $225K | $216K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $224K | $217K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $224K | $220K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $225K | $225K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $226K | $228K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $228K | $229K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $227K | $228K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $228K | $230K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $228K | $231K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $228K | $234K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA
- Cost of living in Scranton, PA
- Reverse: moving from Scranton to Pittsburgh
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.