Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Los Angeles compared to Scranton? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Los Angeles | Metric | Scranton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | Cost of Living Index | 85 | -50.9% |
| $860,000 | Median Home Price | $155,000 | -82.0% |
| $2,050 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,000 | -51.2% |
| $76,000 | Median Household Income | $52,400 | -31.1% |
| 0.7% | Property Tax Rate | 1.5% | +105.5% |
| 5.3% | Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | -17.0% |
| 32 min | Average Commute | 22 min | -31.3% |
| 36.4 | Median Age | 40 | +9.9% |
| 13,200,000 | Metro Population | 560,000 | -95.8% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Los Angeles costs $5,123/month (PITI) compared to $1,023/month in Scranton — a difference of $4,100/month or $49,200/year. The price-to-income ratio is 11.3x in Los Angeles versus 3.0x in Scranton, suggesting Scranton is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 15.1 years to save a down payment in Los Angeles compared to 3.9 years in Scranton.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Los Angeles | Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $76,000 | $52,400 |
| State Income Tax | $3,097 | $1,609 |
| Federal Income Tax | $8,169 | $4,159 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,814 | $4,009 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $6,278/yr | $2,325/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 7.2% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $17,080 (22.5%) | $9,777 (18.7%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $58,920 | $42,623 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $17,080 in Los Angeles (22.5% effective) versus $9,777 in Scranton (18.7% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $58,920 in Los Angeles and $42,623 in Scranton. Property taxes add $6,278/year on the median Los Angeles home versus $2,325/year in Scranton.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $76,000 in Los Angeles (COL 173) and relocate to Scranton (COL 85), you would need $37,341 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $38,659 and still maintain your lifestyle in Scranton.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Los Angeles is 32 minutes versus 22 minutes in Scranton, a difference of 10 minutes each way. Scranton's lower unemployment rate of 4.4% versus 5.3% suggests a stronger job market. Scranton skews slightly older with a median age of 40 vs 36.4 in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is 50.9% more expensive than Scranton overall. Los Angeles has a cost of living index of 173 compared to 85 for Scranton (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $860,000 in Los Angeles vs $155,000 in Scranton.
The median home price in Los Angeles is $860,000, which is $705,000 more than Scranton's median of $155,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,050/month in Los Angeles vs $1,000/month in Scranton, a difference of $1,050/month or $12,600/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $76,000 salary in Los Angeles is equivalent to $37,341 in Scranton. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Los Angeles's COL index of 173 vs Scranton's 85. Conversely, $52,400 in Scranton equals $106,649 in Los Angeles.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $17,080 (22.5% effective rate) in Los Angeles vs $9,777 (18.7% effective rate) in Scranton. Property taxes on the median home are $6,278/year in Los Angeles (0.7% rate) vs $2,325/year in Scranton (1.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 7.2% in California and 6.0% in Pennsylvania.
Los Angeles median household income: $76,000/yr. Scranton median household income: $52,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,050 in Los Angeles vs $1,000 in Scranton. Annualized that is $24,600 vs $12,000.
Scranton offers a lower cost of living (index 85 vs 173), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Los Angeles typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Los Angeles and Scranton numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Los Angeles vs Scranton cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .