New Castle, PA vs Wilkes-Barre, PA

New Castle is moderately more affordable than Wilkes-Barre, with a 14% lower cost of living index. New Castle scores 60 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 New Castle is $698/month compared to $939/month in Wilkes-Barre — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Castle is more affordable at $72,000 median vs $108,000.

Median household income in New Castle is $41,478 compared to $47,970 in Wilkes-Barre (-13.5%). The higher salaries in Wilkes-Barre partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of New Castle spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23.5% in Wilkes-Barre.