Scranton, PA vs Altoona, PA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Altoona, PA is 4.3% less expensive than Scranton, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Scranton works out to about $71,800 in Altoona, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 17.9% less in Altoona. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,004 a month in Altoona and $1,362 in Scranton, $4,296 a year less in Altoona (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $175,000 in Altoona and $234,000 in Scranton.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Altoona was 2.3% less expensive than Scranton.
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: 17.9% lower in Altoona than in Scranton
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 89.5 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 67.0 | 55.0 |
| Utilities | 106.5 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Category | Scranton | Altoona | Altoona vs Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 89.5 | −4.3% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 67.0 | 55.0 | −17.9% |
| Utilities | 106.5 | 107.7 | +1.1% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,362 | $1,004 | −26.3% |
| Typical home value | $234,000 | $175,000 | −25.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Scranton | $75,000 | $71,800 | −4.3% |
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 Scranton and Altoona has widened since 2008: 1.2 points then, 4.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 93.9 |
| 2009 | 96.0 | 91.7 |
| 2010 | 94.1 | 93.7 |
| 2011 | 94.7 | 93.5 |
| 2012 | 94.0 | 92.3 |
| 2013 | 94.6 | 92.8 |
| 2014 | 91.5 | 89.3 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 92.5 |
| 2016 | 94.8 | 91.5 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 91.2 |
| 2018 | 92.9 | 91.3 |
| 2019 | 92.9 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 93.1 | 89.7 |
| 2021 | 93.1 | 89.3 |
| 2022 | 91.9 | 89.0 |
| 2023 | 93.4 | 88.7 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 89.5 |
Goods
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2014 | 97.9 | 97.9 |
| 2015 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 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)
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66.5 | 61.0 |
| 2009 | 69.3 | 55.1 |
| 2010 | 67.9 | 69.5 |
| 2011 | 72.4 | 70.5 |
| 2012 | 70.9 | 64.9 |
| 2013 | 69.3 | 60.9 |
| 2014 | 62.6 | 54.6 |
| 2015 | 73.6 | 59.0 |
| 2016 | 70.9 | 58.6 |
| 2017 | 66.5 | 54.1 |
| 2018 | 63.2 | 58.7 |
| 2019 | 66.0 | 56.6 |
| 2020 | 67.0 | 54.0 |
| 2021 | 68.5 | 55.8 |
| 2022 | 65.0 | 53.6 |
| 2023 | 68.9 | 53.0 |
| 2024 | 67.0 | 55.0 |
Utilities
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.1 | 113.9 |
| 2009 | 116.8 | 118.8 |
| 2010 | 110.2 | 110.4 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 112.5 |
| 2012 | 106.4 | 106.2 |
| 2013 | 106.0 | 105.7 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 104.4 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2016 | 106.8 | 107.0 |
| 2017 | 111.4 | 111.6 |
| 2018 | 115.1 | 113.8 |
| 2019 | 115.8 | 114.9 |
| 2020 | 111.5 | 111.0 |
| 2021 | 110.3 | 109.3 |
| 2022 | 109.8 | 110.2 |
| 2023 | 116.4 | 117.1 |
| 2024 | 106.5 | 107.7 |
Other services
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, PA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 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: $1,004 in Altoona vs $1,362 in Scranton
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, 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
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $734 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $740 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $748 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $759 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $749 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $766 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $773 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $764 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $776 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $783 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $798 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $812 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $799 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $822 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $832 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $842 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $848 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $876 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $872 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $874 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $880 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $917 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $934 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $963 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $997 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,042 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,069 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,090 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,131 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,153 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,180 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,171 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,180 | $841 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,205 | $847 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,217 | $845 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,223 | $857 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,238 | $864 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,251 | $870 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,273 | $897 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,280 | $897 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,296 | $894 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,296 | $922 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,310 | $956 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,320 | $948 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,345 | $954 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,347 | $986 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,362 | $1,004 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $175,000 in Altoona vs $234,000 in Scranton
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Scranton, PA
- Altoona, 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
| Scranton, PA | Altoona, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $125K | $117K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $127K | $120K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $128K | $122K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $130K | $124K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $131K | $124K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $129K | $126K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $129K | $126K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $129K | $127K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $128K | $129K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $128K | $134K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $129K | $134K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $133K | $132K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $137K | $131K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $139K | $131K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $139K | $129K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $138K | $130K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $140K | $130K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $142K | $129K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $145K | $134K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $147K | $137K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $150K | $140K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $152K | $142K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $154K | $143K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $163K | $148K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $171K | $149K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $176K | $149K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $181K | $151K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $185K | $151K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $191K | $152K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $196K | $153K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $195K | $151K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $194K | $149K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $199K | $150K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $200K | $150K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $203K | $152K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $205K | $153K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $210K | $153K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $216K | $156K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $217K | $155K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $220K | $158K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $225K | $161K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $228K | $163K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $229K | $165K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $228K | $169K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $230K | $174K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $231K | $175K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $234K | $175K | $366K |
More about each city
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.