College Station vs Scranton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Scranton
The Verdict
College Station is 3.3% less expensive than Scranton overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $77,586 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 College Station has the same purchasing power as $77,586 in Scranton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $72,500 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Scranton
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $195,000. The $119,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,740 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station 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 96 in College Station and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $55,000 respectively. College Station residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. 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 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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