City Comparison

Roseville vs Scranton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

Scranton

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

The Verdict

54.4%

Living in Scranton costs 54.4% less than Roseville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Roseville, you would need $48,561 in Scranton.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
179
Roseville
65
Scranton
Groceries
105
Roseville
98
Scranton
Utilities
163
Roseville
102
Scranton
Transportation
134
Roseville
101
Scranton
Healthcare
106
Roseville
90
Scranton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Roseville has the same purchasing power as $48,561 in Scranton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Scranton equals $115,833 in Roseville.

Living in Roseville vs Scranton

Housing Costs

Roseville's housing index of 179 is higher Scranton's 65, translating to median home prices of $625,000 vs $195,000. The $430,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Roseville compared to $1,025/mo in Scranton, a monthly difference of $975.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 105 in Roseville and 98 in Scranton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $499/month in Roseville vs $466/month in Scranton. Scranton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 163 in Roseville and 102 in Scranton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $652 in Roseville vs $408 in Scranton. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Roseville and 90 in Scranton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $142,800 in Roseville and $49,500 in Scranton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $102,734 and $55,000 respectively. Roseville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,332/month to housing in Roseville vs $1,155/month in Scranton. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/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 114 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scranton is 54.4% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Roseville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,561 in Scranton, based on the cost of living difference.
Roseville's housing index is 179 with median homes at $625,000, while Scranton's is 65 with median homes at $195,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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