City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Scranton, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 4.6% higher than in Scranton, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Scranton, PA would need about $104,600 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,028 in Scranton, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 16% in Scranton, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,866 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Scranton, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Scranton, PA ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (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
| Richmond, VA | Scranton, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,604 in Scranton | $104,598 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,028/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $46,330 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 67.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 106.5 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Scranton, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,866/yr.
83 Strong offer
Scranton, PA → Richmond, VA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,866/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Scranton, PA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Scranton, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Scranton, PA | Real change, Richmond → Scranton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Scranton, PA | Scranton pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $76,590 | $80,112 (+30.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $119,960 | $125,476 (−5.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $70,480 | $73,721 (−12.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $82,650 | $86,451 (−7.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.