CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Chattanooga is slightly cheaper than Scranton — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $81,800 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing12.5%
Chattanooga
76.6
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.9%
Chattanooga
96
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation+2.5%
Chattanooga
100.1
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Chattanooga
90.5
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+43.5%
Chattanooga
74.2
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$81,800
$1,800 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 1.0230. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
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×

Chattanooga has 12.5% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.