CostIndexUSA

Mobile, AL vs Scranton, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
PA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Mobile is moderately cheaper than Scranton — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $85,000 in Scranton. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.5%
Mobile
60.1
Scranton
67
🛒 Groceries+4.5%
Mobile
96.4
Scranton
100.7
🚗 Transportation+1.1%
Mobile
101.5
Scranton
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Mobile
91.9
Scranton
92.8
Utilities+26.5%
Mobile
84.2
Scranton
106.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scranton, PA
$85,000
$5,000 more needed in Scranton

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 88.1) = salary × 1.0624. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Scranton, PA

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

Scranton has 11.5% higher housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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).

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.