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Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Cost of living in Luzerne County, PA

Part of the Scranton Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$2,911/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 325,978 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $928 32%
Federal tax $481 17%
Healthcare $480 16%
Groceries $341 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $205 7%
State tax $101 3%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Luzerne County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$779
per month
1 bedroom
$928
per month
2 bedroom
$1,123
per month
3 bedroom
$1,462
per month
4 bedroom
$1,596
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Luzerne County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$62,321
per year
Individual earnings
$39,489
per year
Per capita
$34,857
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Luzerne County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$163,800
Annual property tax
$2,506

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Luzerne County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$143
per month · 17.9¢/kWh
Natural gas
$62
per month
Annual total
$2,460
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Luzerne County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Luzerne County

State and local tax rates for Pennsylvania.

State income tax
3.1%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Luzerne County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.6 min
Drive alone
76.0%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
9.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Luzerne County

What it costs to live in Luzerne County each month.

Single person
$2,911
per month
  • Rent $928
  • Energy $205
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $481
  • State tax $101
Couple
$4,132
per month
  • Rent $1,123
  • Energy $246
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $690
  • State tax $159
Family
$6,621
per month
  • Rent $1,462
  • Energy $308
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $690
  • State tax $159

Frequently asked questions about Luzerne County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Luzerne County?

In Luzerne County, PA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $928 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,123 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,462 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Luzerne County?

In Luzerne County, PA, the average household income is $62,321 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $39,489 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Luzerne County?

The estimated cost of living in Luzerne County, PA is approximately $2,911 per month for a single person, $4,132 for a couple, $6,621 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Luzerne County?

The combined sales tax rate in Luzerne County, PA is 6.34%, which includes the Pennsylvania state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.34%.

Is Luzerne County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Luzerne County, PA would need approximately $2,911 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $62,321 per year ($5,193 per month). Luzerne County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Luzerne County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Luzerne County, PA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Luzerne County?

The average home value in Luzerne County, PA is $163,800, with average annual property taxes of $2,506, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Luzerne County compare to other areas?

You can compare Luzerne County, PA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Luzerne County is in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area.

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Browse the full list of counties in Pennsylvania, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Pennsylvania

Compare Luzerne County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources