CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Appleton is slightly cheaper than Scranton — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $81,000 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing5.4%
Appleton
70.8
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+7.4%
Appleton
93.8
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Appleton
104.4
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.7%
Appleton
94.4
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+17.5%
Appleton
90.6
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Appleton to see what you'd need to earn in Scranton to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 1.0130. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Scranton, PA

Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
67
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Appleton has 5.4% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% of income left after rent (median)

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.