City comparison
Scranton, PA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 2.6% higher than in Scranton, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Scranton, PA would need about $102,600 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,028 a month in Scranton, PA and $1,060 in York, 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 +14.4% moving from Scranton, PA to York, PA ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.5% in real buying power.
- Scranton, PA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Scranton, PA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.6 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,612 in York | $97,454 in Scranton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,028/mo | $1,060/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 | 16% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,330 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Scranton | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 67.0 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 106.5 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 93.6 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Scranton, PA → York, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
61 Fair offer
York, PA → Scranton, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Scranton, PA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Scranton, PA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Scranton, PA | York, PA | Real change, Scranton → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Scranton, PA | York, PA | York pay in Scranton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,590 | $79,730 | $77,700 (+1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $119,960 | $114,600 | $111,682 (−6.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,480 | $75,160 | $73,247 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,650 | $96,210 | $93,761 (+13.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.