CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Scranton is moderately cheaper than Denver — 11.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $70,800 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing54.4%
Denver
146.9
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Denver
101
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Denver
104.4
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Denver
94.5
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+21.2%
Denver
87.9
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$70,800
$9,200 less needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.8847. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Scranton, PA

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

Denver has 54.4% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

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).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.