Median rent is 47% lower in Wilkes-Barre ($939/mo vs $1,779/mo). Buying is cheaper in Wilkes-Barre, where the median home runs $108,000 versus $751,700. Households earn more in New York ($79,713 vs $47,970 a year).
City A
New York, NY
City B
Wilkes-Barre, PA
How much would you need to earn in Wilkes-Barre, PA to maintain your standard of living from New York, NY?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
New York
New York
Wilkes-Barre
Pennsylvania
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Wilkes-Barre — median rent of $939/mo versus $1,779/mo in New York, a 47% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $751,700 versus $108,000 in Wilkes-Barre — 86% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% versus 3.07% in Pennsylvania, so Wilkes-Barre is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 4.00% in New York and 6.00% in Pennsylvania; New York has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
New York
Income tax: 10.90%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Wilkes-Barre
Income tax: 3.07%
Sales tax: 6.00%
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 61.0) but not yet for Wilkes-Barre.
Pick New York if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,713/yr).
Pick Wilkes-Barre if you prioritize cheaper rent ($939/mo median).
Pick Wilkes-Barre if you prioritize lower state income tax (3.07%).
Is New York cheaper than Wilkes-Barre?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in New York vs Wilkes-Barre?
Median rent is $1,779/mo in New York, NY and $939/mo in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Wilkes-Barre, PA has the lower rent by about 47%.
Which has higher salaries — New York or Wilkes-Barre?
Median household income is $79,713 in New York, NY and $47,970 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — New York or Wilkes-Barre?
New York's top income tax rate is 10.90% and Pennsylvania's is 3.07%. Wilkes-Barre, PA has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Wilkes-Barre to match my New York income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology