CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Lexington is slightly cheaper than Scranton — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $80,600 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.1%
Lexington
77.1
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.7%
Lexington
96.2
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation+0.9%
Lexington
101.7
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Lexington
92
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+42.8%
Lexington
74.6
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$80,600
$600 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 1.0075. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Scranton, PA

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

Lexington has 13.1% lower housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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).

Lexington, KY
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.