City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Scranton, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.6% higher than in Scranton, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Scranton, PA would need about $103,600 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,119 a month in Milwaukee, WI versus $1,028 in Scranton, PA. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI and 16% in Scranton, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $849 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Scranton, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Scranton, PA ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.9% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- Scranton, PA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Milwaukee, WI | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,512 in Scranton | $103,614 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,028/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $46,330 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 67.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 106.5 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Scranton, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$849/yr.
80 Strong offer
Scranton, PA → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$849/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Scranton, PA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Scranton, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Scranton, PA | Real change, Milwaukee → Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | −0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | −0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | −0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | −0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | −0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Scranton, PA | Scranton pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $76,590 | $79,358 (+29.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $119,960 | $124,295 (+0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $70,480 | $73,027 (−9.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $82,650 | $85,637 (−12.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.