City Comparison

Gresham vs Scranton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gresham

Oregon
128
Expensive
$459,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

Scranton

Pennsylvania
90
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$49,500
Median Income

The Verdict

42.2%

Living in Scranton costs 42.2% less than Gresham. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gresham, you would need $52,734 in Scranton.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
172
Gresham
65
Scranton
Groceries
101
Gresham
98
Scranton
Utilities
96
Gresham
102
Scranton
Transportation
126
Gresham
101
Scranton
Healthcare
103
Gresham
90
Scranton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gresham has the same purchasing power as $52,734 in Scranton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $106,667 in Gresham.

Living in Gresham vs Scranton

Housing Costs

Gresham's housing index of 172 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $459,000 vs $195,000. The $264,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,160 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,450/mo in Gresham compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Gresham and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Gresham 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 Gresham and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Gresham vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Gresham and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $69,600 in Gresham and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,375 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 $1,624/month to housing in Gresham vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Gresham, median rent of $1,450/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

Scranton is 42.2% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 128.
A $75,000 salary in Gresham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $52,734 in Scranton, based on the cost of living difference.
Gresham's housing index is 172 with median homes at $459,000, while Scranton's is 65 with median homes at $195,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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