Columbia vs Scranton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Columbia
Scranton
The Verdict
Scranton is 46.7% less expensive than Columbia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Columbia would need approximately $51,136 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 Columbia has the same purchasing power as $51,136 in Scranton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $110,000 in Columbia.
Living in Columbia vs Scranton
Housing Costs
Columbia's housing index of 172 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $195,000. The $235,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,276 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Columbia compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $875.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Columbia and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Columbia vs $466/month in Scranton. Scranton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 110 in Columbia and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Columbia vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 101 in Columbia and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $112,738 in Columbia and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,408 and $55,000 respectively. Columbia residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,631/month to housing in Columbia vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Columbia, median rent of $1,900/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 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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