CostIndexUSA

Norfolk, VA vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Norfolk
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than Norfolk — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Norfolk, you would need $76,500 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing32.9%
Norfolk
99.8
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Norfolk
96.8
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Norfolk
103.5
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Norfolk
93.7
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+18.9%
Norfolk
89.6
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9561. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Norfolk, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Scranton, PA

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

Norfolk has 32.9% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Norfolk, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
245,782
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareShippingGovernmentRetail

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).

Norfolk, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.