Charleston vs Scranton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charleston
Scranton
The Verdict
Scranton is 22.2% less expensive than Charleston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charleston would need approximately $61,364 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 Charleston has the same purchasing power as $61,364 in Scranton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $91,667 in Charleston.
Living in Charleston vs Scranton
Housing Costs
Charleston's housing index of 127 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $195,000. The $185,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Charleston compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $575.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Charleston and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Charleston 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 99 in Charleston and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Charleston vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Charleston and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,872 in Charleston and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,884 and $55,000 respectively. Charleston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,537/month to housing in Charleston vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Charleston, median rent of $1,600/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 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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