CostIndexUSA

Indianapolis, IN vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IN
Indianapolis
95.7
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than Indianapolis — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Indianapolis, you would need $78,200 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.6%
Indianapolis
88.9
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+6.8%
Indianapolis
94.3
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation1.4%
Indianapolis
104.1
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Indianapolis
94.2
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+23.3%
Indianapolis
86.4
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 95.7) = salary × 0.9781. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Home Price
$283,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
88.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Scranton, PA

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

Indianapolis has 24.6% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Indianapolis, IN

Median Household Income
$77,900
Per Capita Income
$44,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
887,642
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceLogisticsSports

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).

Indianapolis, IN
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.