CostIndexUSA

Scranton, PA vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than Wilmington — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Scranton, you would need $82,400 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+39.1%
Scranton
67
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries4.1%
Scranton
100.7
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Scranton
102.6
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Scranton
92.8
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities17.5%
Scranton
106.5
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$82,400
$2,400 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0299. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Scranton, PA

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

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 39.1% higher housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×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.