Jacksonville vs Scranton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Jacksonville
Scranton
The Verdict
Scranton is 5.6% less expensive than Jacksonville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Jacksonville would need approximately $71,053 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 Jacksonville has the same purchasing power as $71,053 in Scranton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $79,167 in Jacksonville.
Living in Jacksonville vs Scranton
Housing Costs
Jacksonville's housing index of 89 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $195,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Jacksonville compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Jacksonville and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Jacksonville 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 94 in Jacksonville and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Jacksonville vs $408 in Scranton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in Jacksonville 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 $53,025 in Jacksonville and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,816 and $55,000 respectively. Jacksonville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,237/month to housing in Jacksonville vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/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 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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