Scranton vs Virginia Beach
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Scranton
Virginia Beach
The Verdict
Scranton is 14.3% less expensive than Virginia Beach overall. A household earning $75,000 in Scranton would need approximately $87,500 in Virginia Beach 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 $87,500 in Virginia Beach.
Conversely, $75,000 in Virginia Beach equals $64,286 in Scranton.
Living in Scranton vs Virginia Beach
Housing Costs
Scranton's housing index of 65 is lower Virginia Beach's 112, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $310,000. The $115,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,476 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Scranton compared to $1,500/mo in Virginia Beach, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Scranton and 100 in Virginia Beach. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Scranton vs $475/month in Virginia Beach. 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 98 in Virginia Beach. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Scranton vs $392 in Virginia Beach. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in Scranton and 99 in Virginia Beach. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $73,418 in Virginia Beach. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,000 and $69,922 respectively. Virginia Beach 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 $1,713/month in Virginia Beach. In Scranton, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Virginia Beach, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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