Scranton, PA vs Pittsburgh, PA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is 1.2% more expensive than Scranton, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Scranton works out to about $75,900 in Pittsburgh, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 7.5% more in Pittsburgh. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,467 a month in Pittsburgh and $1,362 in Scranton, $1,260 a year more in Pittsburgh (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $228,000 in Pittsburgh and $234,000 in Scranton.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.7%).
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: 7.5% higher in Pittsburgh than in Scranton
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
All items Scranton, PA: 93.6 Pittsburgh, PA: 94.7
Goods Scranton, PA: 100.7 Pittsburgh, PA: 100.7
Housing (rents) Scranton, PA: 67.0 Pittsburgh, PA: 72.0
Utilities Scranton, PA: 106.5 Pittsburgh, PA: 107.7
Other services Scranton, PA: 97.7 Pittsburgh, PA: 97.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 67.0 | 72.0 |
| Utilities | 106.5 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Category | Scranton | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh vs Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.6 | 94.7 | +1.2% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 67.0 | 72.0 | +7.5% |
| Utilities | 106.5 | 107.7 | +1.1% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,362 | $1,467 | +7.7% |
| Typical home value | $234,000 | $228,000 | −2.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Scranton | $75,000 | $75,900 | +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 Scranton and Pittsburgh has narrowed since 2008: 2.7 points then, 1.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 96.0 | 93.1 |
| 2010 | 94.1 | 94.3 |
| 2011 | 94.7 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 94.0 | 95.5 |
| 2013 | 94.6 | 94.4 |
| 2014 | 91.5 | 94.4 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 94.8 | 93.9 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 94.9 |
| 2018 | 92.9 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 92.9 | 95.3 |
| 2020 | 93.1 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 93.1 | 94.8 |
| 2022 | 91.9 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 93.4 | 94.7 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 94.7 |
Goods
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.0 | 93.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 94.3 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 97.1 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 98.7 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 97.9 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 99.3 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 100.5 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 102.3 |
| 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
- Pittsburgh, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66.5 | 73.9 |
| 2009 | 69.3 | 75.0 |
| 2010 | 67.9 | 74.3 |
| 2011 | 72.4 | 76.2 |
| 2012 | 70.9 | 75.1 |
| 2013 | 69.3 | 76.1 |
| 2014 | 62.6 | 75.1 |
| 2015 | 73.6 | 75.9 |
| 2016 | 70.9 | 76.8 |
| 2017 | 66.5 | 75.4 |
| 2018 | 63.2 | 75.3 |
| 2019 | 66.0 | 76.9 |
| 2020 | 67.0 | 76.7 |
| 2021 | 68.5 | 75.3 |
| 2022 | 65.0 | 74.0 |
| 2023 | 68.9 | 72.6 |
| 2024 | 67.0 | 72.0 |
Utilities
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.1 | 113.5 |
| 2009 | 116.8 | 113.6 |
| 2010 | 110.2 | 108.0 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 110.4 |
| 2012 | 106.4 | 109.0 |
| 2013 | 106.0 | 111.0 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 95.2 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 105.7 |
| 2016 | 106.8 | 107.3 |
| 2017 | 111.4 | 108.4 |
| 2018 | 115.1 | 114.7 |
| 2019 | 115.8 | 116.3 |
| 2020 | 111.5 | 112.7 |
| 2021 | 110.3 | 110.5 |
| 2022 | 109.8 | 111.0 |
| 2023 | 116.4 | 117.6 |
| 2024 | 106.5 | 107.7 |
Other services
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Scranton, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 96.8 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 97.0 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 96.7 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 96.3 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 101.0 | 94.7 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 96.1 |
| 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: $1,467 in Pittsburgh vs $1,362 in Scranton
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, 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 | Pittsburgh, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $734 | $947 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $740 | $962 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $748 | $955 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $759 | $953 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $749 | $979 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $766 | $980 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $773 | $969 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $764 | $956 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $776 | $987 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $783 | $999 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $798 | $995 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $812 | $993 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $799 | $1,017 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $822 | $1,031 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $832 | $1,026 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $842 | $1,034 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $848 | $1,054 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $876 | $1,064 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $872 | $1,067 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $874 | $1,079 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $880 | $1,098 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $917 | $1,099 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $934 | $1,108 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $963 | $1,106 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $997 | $1,125 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,042 | $1,160 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,069 | $1,188 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,090 | $1,196 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,131 | $1,218 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,153 | $1,250 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,180 | $1,271 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,171 | $1,261 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,180 | $1,279 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,205 | $1,301 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,217 | $1,308 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,223 | $1,312 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,238 | $1,330 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,251 | $1,353 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,273 | $1,366 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,280 | $1,364 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,296 | $1,382 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,296 | $1,410 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,310 | $1,417 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,320 | $1,418 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,345 | $1,436 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,347 | $1,461 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,362 | $1,467 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $228,000 in Pittsburgh vs $234,000 in Scranton
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Scranton, PA
- Pittsburgh, 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 | Pittsburgh, PA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $125K | $138K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $127K | $141K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $128K | $143K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $130K | $144K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $131K | $145K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $129K | $146K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $129K | $147K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $129K | $149K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $128K | $150K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $128K | $151K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $129K | $153K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $133K | $155K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $137K | $157K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $139K | $159K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $139K | $161K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $138K | $161K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $140K | $163K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $142K | $165K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $145K | $167K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $147K | $169K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $150K | $172K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $152K | $174K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $154K | $178K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $163K | $186K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $171K | $194K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $176K | $202K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $181K | $203K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $185K | $202K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $191K | $209K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $196K | $215K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $195K | $212K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $194K | $210K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $199K | $208K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $200K | $212K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $203K | $217K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $205K | $218K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $210K | $220K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $216K | $225K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $217K | $224K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $220K | $224K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $225K | $225K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $228K | $226K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $229K | $228K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $228K | $227K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $230K | $228K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $231K | $228K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $234K | $228K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Scranton, PA
- Cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA
- Reverse: moving from Pittsburgh to Scranton
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.