Asheville vs Scranton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Scranton
The Verdict
Scranton is 20.0% less expensive than Asheville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Asheville would need approximately $62,500 in Scranton to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $62,500 in Scranton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $90,000 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Scranton
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $195,000. The $165,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,728 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $466/month in Scranton. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $55,000 respectively. Scranton residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Asheville vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Scranton, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 55 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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