City Comparison

Scranton vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Scranton

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

16.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 16.9%, with Toledo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Scranton has equivalent purchasing power to $64,167 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
65
Scranton
55
Toledo
Groceries
98
Scranton
98
Toledo
Utilities
102
Scranton
92
Toledo
Transportation
101
Scranton
101
Toledo
Healthcare
90
Scranton
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Scranton has the same purchasing power as $64,167 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $87,662 in Scranton.

Living in Scranton vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Scranton's housing index of 65 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $128,000. The $67,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,356 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Scranton compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Scranton and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Scranton vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Scranton vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Scranton and 84 in Toledo. 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 $49,500 in Scranton and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,000 and $54,805 respectively. Scranton residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,155/month to housing in Scranton vs $985/month in Toledo. In Scranton, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 16.9% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Scranton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $64,167 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Scranton's housing index is 65 with median homes at $195,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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