City comparison
Pittsburgh, PA vs Scranton, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 1.2% higher than in Scranton, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Scranton, PA would need about $101,200 in Pittsburgh, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,077 a month in Pittsburgh, PA and $1,028 in Scranton, PA.
- Both are in PA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.3% moving from Pittsburgh, PA to Scranton, PA ($110,047 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
- Scranton, PA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.7 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,822 in Scranton | $101,192 in Pittsburgh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,077/mo | $1,028/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,650 | $46,330 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA. Metro areas: Pittsburgh, PA and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pittsburgh | Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 67.0 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 106.5 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 94.7 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pittsburgh, PA → Scranton, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
Scranton, PA → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pittsburgh, PA is in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV pay area; Scranton, PA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Pittsburgh, PA to Scranton, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | Real change, Pittsburgh → Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,815 | $61,722 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,211 | $74,678 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,543 | $89,508 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,047 | $106,437 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,042 | $125,776 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pittsburgh, PA | Scranton, PA | Scranton pay in Pittsburgh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,550 | $76,590 | $77,503 (+1.2%) |
| Software Developers | $124,500 | $119,960 | $121,390 (−2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,940 | $70,480 | $71,320 (−7.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,370 | $82,650 | $83,635 (+1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.