Scranton vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Scranton
St. Paul
The Verdict
Scranton is 10.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Scranton would need approximately $83,333 in St. Paul 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 Scranton has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $67,500 in Scranton.
Living in Scranton vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Scranton's housing index of 65 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $260,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Scranton compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Scranton and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Scranton vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 102 in Scranton and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Scranton vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in Scranton and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $49,500 in Scranton and $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,000 and $57,718 respectively. St. Paul residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,155/month to housing in Scranton vs $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Scranton, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases