CostIndexUSA

Scranton, PA vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Scranton
93.6
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
MO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Scranton is slightly cheaper than St. Louis — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Scranton, you would need $81,300 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+17.9%
Scranton
67
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries0.7%
Scranton
100.7
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Scranton
102.6
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Scranton
92.8
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities34.4%
Scranton
106.5
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$81,300
$1,300 more needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 93.6) = salary × 1.0160. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Scranton, PA

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

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

St. Louis has 17.9% higher housing costs compared to Scranton.

Income & Job Market

Scranton, PA

Median Household Income
$58,800
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
76,997
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Scranton, PA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.