Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to come in below the national average on overall living costs, but residents are not seeing savings everywhere.
Utility bills are higher than the U.S. norm, and transportation costs run above average in some parts of the region.
Here's what to know
First-quarter 2026 results from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index showed all three counties in the NEPA region below the national standard score of 100. According to Times Leader, the index — which compares more than 250 U.S. regions across housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods and services — recorded 88.1 for Lackawanna County, 87.4 for Luzerne County, and 89.1 for Wayne County.
Among the three counties, Luzerne had the lowest total score. Each of the three counties also registered lower than larger Pennsylvania metros, including Allentown at 101.8, Harrisburg at 100.8, and Philadelphia at 105.2.
Jill Avery-Stoss, President & CEO of The Institute, said housing remains one of the region's strongest affordability advantages. Even after sharp increases in rents and home values since 2020, housing costs in all three counties stayed well below the national average, though it rose from 2025.
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More background
Affordability is not spread evenly, even across a region that remains relatively low-cost overall.
Across Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne Counties, the utilities index was identical at 106.2, putting all three above the national average for that category.
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Getting around was another relative pressure point. Once expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance were included, the transportation index reached 106.0 in Lackawanna County and 108.6 in Luzerne County, while Wayne County was much closer to the national benchmark at 99.0.
Grocery costs stayed slightly below the national average; the index showed 98.1 in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties and 97.7 in Wayne County. Healthcare costs in all three counties also remained below the national norm.
Miscellaneous costs were more uneven. Lackawanna came in just above average at 100.1, while Luzerne measured 96.2 and Wayne came in at 90.5.
What can be done?
With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. Homeowners can also use EnergySage's solar map, which shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with details on solar panel incentives for each state. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
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Homeowners interested in backup power can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
"This data is useful for families and businesses when they are looking to relocate or expand to a new region of the country," Avery-Stoss said.
Where can I learn more?
These stories help explain why utility and transportation costs can still feel high in Pennsylvania.
• In Pennsylvania, power auction pressures could push electricity bills higher as data centers strain PJM.
• In Philadelphia, another June bill hike is looming for PECO customers as AC use climbs.
• Pennsylvania wants utilities to show they're fixing the grid after major electricity losses nationwide.
• Across Pennsylvania, a $100 million plan is expanding EV charging from rural areas to cities.
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