Erie, PA vs Wilkes-Barre, PA

Erie is moderately more affordable than Wilkes-Barre, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Erie scores 66 compared to 70 for Wilkes-Barre, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wilkes-Barre can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Erie is $836/month compared to $939/month in Wilkes-Barre — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Erie has cheaper rent, Wilkes-Barre actually has lower median home values ($108,000 vs $108,200).

Median household income in Erie is $43,397 compared to $47,970 in Wilkes-Barre (-9.5%). While Wilkes-Barre is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Erie spend roughly 23.1% of their income on rent, less than the 23.5% in Wilkes-Barre.