CostIndexUSA

Cedar Rapids, IA vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Cedar Rapids
89
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Cedar Rapids is moderately cheaper than Scranton — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cedar Rapids, you would need $84,100 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing6.2%
Cedar Rapids
71.4
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+7.5%
Cedar Rapids
93.7
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation+5.1%
Cedar Rapids
97.6
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.1%
Cedar Rapids
88.3
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+26.8%
Cedar Rapids
84
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 89) = salary × 1.0517. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Home Price
$230,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
71.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Scranton, PA

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

Cedar Rapids has 6.2% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Cedar Rapids, IA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
133,562
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceTechnologyAgriculture

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).

Cedar Rapids, IA
5.6×income-to-rent ratio

82% 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.