Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Scranton, PA and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Scranton, PA: $2,109 a month against $2,626 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Scranton, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,109
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,626
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Scranton, PA and in Vancouver

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Scranton, PA and in Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,109 per month in Scranton, PA vs $2,626 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Scranton, PA $2,109
  • Vancouver $2,626

A couple spends around $3,000 per month in Scranton, PA vs $3,841 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Scranton, PA $3,000
  • Vancouver $3,841

A family of three spends $3,891 per month in Scranton, PA vs $5,056 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Scranton, PA $3,891
  • Vancouver $5,056

Scranton, PA is about 20% cheaper than Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Scranton, PA and Vancouver sit above the global median – Scranton, PA by 56%, Vancouver by 95%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.08 $12.08
$17.19 CA$24.30
-29.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 $77.1
$69.1 CA$97.6
11.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.96 $5.96
$10.61 CA$15.00
-43.83%
Cappuccino
$4.48 $4.48
$3.83 CA$5.42
16.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.04 CA$2.88
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.65 CA$2.34
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$5.54 CA$7.83
25.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.66 $7.66
$6.20 CA$8.77
23.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 $0.73
$2.14 CA$3.02
-65.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.51 CA$3.54
-41.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$4.49 CA$6.35
-50.56%
Eggs
$3.34 $3.34
$4.09 CA$5.78
-18.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 $11.12
$11.73 CA$16.58
-5.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.81 $8.81
$13.11 CA$18.54
-32.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.18 $11.18
$19.50 CA$27.57
-42.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 $3.61
$4.00 CA$5.65
-9.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.38 CA$1.94
-5.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.88 CA$5.48
-14.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.26 $4.26
$3.95 CA$5.58
7.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.90 $2.90
$2.72 CA$3.85
6.62%
Onion (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$2.86 CA$4.05
16.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.46 CA$3.48
-21.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.56 CA$2.21
-35.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 $6.59
$15.48 CA$21.88
-57.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.19 $12.19
$13.75 CA$19.44
-11.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.63 CA$3.72
15.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 $4.79
$2.89 CA$4.09
65.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.48 CA$3.51
-30.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.1 $61.1
$83.0 CA$117
-26.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.72 CA$3.85
16.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.58 CA$2.24
26.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.03 $25.03
$31.05 CA$43.89
-19.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.37 CA$1.94
-18.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$27.7K CA$39.1K
27.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
30.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 $232
$82.5 CA$117
181.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.27 $40.27
$37.26 CA$52.7
8.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.27 $49.27
$51.7 CA$73.1
-4.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.52 $29.52
$42.87 CA$60.6
-31.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.03 $16.03
$12.40 CA$17.53
29.27%
Cinema Ticket
$12.53 $12.53
$12.13 CA$17.15
3.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 $770
$1,102 CA$1,557
-30.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K $17.6K
$19.8K CA$28.0K
-11.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.23 $45.23
$56.4 CA$79.7
-19.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25 $30.25
$33.43 CA$47.26
-9.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.9 $72.9
$93.9 CA$133
-22.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9 $82.9
$93.8 CA$133
-11.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 $1,269
$1,775 CA$2,509
-28.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 $1,019
$1,497 CA$2,116
-31.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,554 $1,554
$3,082 CA$4,357
-49.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 $1,481
$2,416 CA$3,416
-38.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,594 $1,594
$8,069 CA$11.4K
-80.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,538 $1,538
$6,449 CA$9,118
-76.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Scranton, PA
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,361 $3,361
$3,776 CA$5,339
-11.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
4.28
55.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Scranton, PA: October 10, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Scranton, PA
$1K
Vancouver
$1.5K 46.8% $477
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scranton, PA
$321
Vancouver
$171 46.6% $150
Groceries & Markets
Scranton, PA
$300
Vancouver
$392 30.8% $93
Eating Out
Scranton, PA
$228
Vancouver
$270 18.3% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Scranton, PA
$104
Vancouver
$125 20% $21
Getting Around
Scranton, PA
$81
Vancouver
$104 27.6% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Scranton, PA
$55
Vancouver
$67 23% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,269 in Scranton, PA versus $1,775 in Vancouver. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Scranton, PA versus $69.0 in Vancouver. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Scranton, PA vs $392 in Vancouver – so Scranton, PA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Scranton, PA
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
16:21 4:21 PM
13:21 1:21 PM
3 h behind Scranton, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
72,861
631,486
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Scranton, PA Vancouver 3,750 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Scranton, PA
  • Vancouver

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Scranton, PA vs Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vancouver cheaper than Scranton, PA?
Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,163 per month in Scranton, PA and $3,939 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Scranton, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 36% less in Scranton, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $770 per month in Scranton, PA and $1,102 in Vancouver. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Scranton, PA or in Vancouver?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Scranton, PA, where all-in costs run around $2,109, than in Vancouver at $2,626. In Scranton, PA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Scranton, PA or Vancouver more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Scranton, PA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Scranton, PA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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