Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Brad Clinesmith from Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Scranton cost of living

Scranton pairs a low rent anchor with Very high property taxes

The comfortable living display is $4,054 per month, with a typical one bedroom at $814 and a two bedroom at $1,023. Groceries are $603, transportation is $1,026, healthcare is $473, utilities are $297, and dining displays at $225 per month. The couple display is $4,453 and the traveler display is $4,054. These are planning references rather than current quotes for one home.

Property taxes display Very high with a 2.04 percent effective rate, $3,224 median real estate taxes paid, and a $158,100 median home value. Renters and owners therefore need different household worksheets, with insurance, heating, maintenance, winter equipment, and personal spending reviewed beside the published lines.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,916 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$814
Utilities (in rent)
$297
Food
$603/mo
Transportation
$1,026/mo
Healthcare
$473

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$4,054

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,453

Very Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$814

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$225/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Very high

Poor

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
15.3%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
35.7%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
38.2%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$39,922

Could Scranton fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,916 per month
Two people
$4,453 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$814
Food
$603
Transportation
$1,026
Healthcare
$473

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Scranton in everyday life

Could Scranton work for you?

What may work well

  • The $4,054 comfortable living display offers a clear starting reference with a $814 one bedroom, $603 food, $1,026 transportation, and $473 healthcare lines.
  • A $158,100 median home value and $39,922 median older householder income provide useful local planning anchors when paired with actual household figures.
  • Nay Aug Park, nearby care, COLTS information, 432 Mbps internet, and rail history give the household several practical destinations to compare.

What to think about

  • Very high property taxes with a 2.04 percent effective rate can matter substantially for owners.
  • The Required car need and $1,026 transportation line keep the budget tied to parking, maintenance, weather, and winter routes.
  • The display does not answer insurance, heating, snow handling, maintenance, property specific charges, or discretionary spending questions.

Plan the Scranton budget around taxes and winter access

  1. Separate the display from the household

    Start with the $4,054 comfortable living display, $814 one bedroom, $1,023 two bedroom, $603 food, $1,026 transportation, $473 healthcare, $297 utilities, and $225 dining display, then add personal spending and actual lease or ownership terms.

  2. Ask how the home handles winter

    Review heating, insulation, pipes, windows, entry surfaces, winter equipment, maintenance, parking, and the household's response to the 20°F average winter low and 147 freezing days.

  3. Price the Very high tax display honestly

    Review the Very high property tax screen, insurance, home value, roof, drainage, trees, heating, winter equipment, transportation, and property responsibilities for the selected address.

  4. Use the decision actions

    Save the strongest Scranton budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after rent, care, transport, climate, tax, winter, and personal spending questions are visible.

Questions retirees ask

What is the Scranton monthly estimate?

The comfortable living display is $4,054 per month. The traveler display is also $4,054 and the couple display is $4,453. These are planning references that need actual housing terms, personal spending, insurance, heating, maintenance, and transport review.

What does a one bedroom cost in the estimate?

The typical one bedroom is $814 and the two bedroom is $1,023. Compare those anchors with the selected home, lease terms, parking, heating, furnishings, insurance, and personal spending.

How should owners read the Scranton property tax display?

Property taxes display Very high with a 2.04 percent effective rate, $3,224 median real estate taxes paid, and a $158,100 median home value. Review the actual parcel, insurance, roof, drainage, trees, heating, winter equipment, and maintenance separately.

Is a car part of the Scranton budget?

The published car need is Required and transportation is $1,026 in the comfortable living plan. COLTS information can help with selected trips, while the home comparison should include care, groceries, pharmacy, parks, airport, parking, winter, and the route home.

What older household cost rows matter?

The published rows show 15.3 percent below poverty, 35.7 percent older householder renter share, 38.2 percent high housing costs, and $39,922 median income for a 65 plus householder. Treat them as area level planning references rather than a judgment about one household.

Scranton offers a lower housing anchor and several city destinations, provided the budget accounts for Very high property taxes, winter heating, transportation, and personal spending. Save the strongest Scranton budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after the actual household worksheet is complete.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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