Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, PA would need to be about $35,595 in Lackawanna County, PA, or $14,405 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Montgomery County, PA vs Lackawanna County, PA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Lackawanna County, PA is cheaper than Montgomery County, PA.
Moving to Lackawanna County, PA is estimated to save $17,255 per year.
Cheaper County
Lackawanna County, PASave about $17,255 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Montgomery County, PA is about $35,595 in Lackawanna County, PA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,199 per year. Housing saves $9,218 per year.
Housing: $9,218 lower in Lackawanna County, PA
Taxes: $4,438 lower in Lackawanna County, PA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,199 higher in Lackawanna County, PA
Food: $658 lower in Lackawanna County, PA
Transport: $1,075 lower in Lackawanna County, PA
Montgomery County, PA→Lackawanna County, PA
Equivalent salary in Lackawanna County, PA
$35,595
-28.81% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Montgomery County, PA: $140,263
Median Income in Lackawanna County, PA: $84,837
Living Index in Montgomery County, PA 42.69%
Living Index in Lackawanna County, PA 50.25%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Montgomery County, PA to Lackawanna County, PA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Montgomery County, PA to Lackawanna County, PA is estimated to save $17,255 per year. A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, PA would have similar purchasing power to about $35,595 in Lackawanna County, PA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -28.81% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,218 per year lower (-49.36%); Taxes is $4,438 per year lower (-36.23%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Montgomery County, PA and Lackawanna County, PA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 42.7% of median family income in Montgomery County, PA and 50.2% in Lackawanna County, PA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,218 per year lower in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lackawanna County, PA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $658 per year lower in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lackawanna County, PA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,075 per year lower in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Lackawanna County, PA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,199 per year higher in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lackawanna County, PA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,066 per year lower in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lackawanna County, PA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Montgomery County, PA and Lackawanna County, PA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lackawanna County, PA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,438 per year lower in Lackawanna County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lackawanna County, PA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Lackawanna County, PA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lackawanna County, PA
Annual Increase:
$1,199 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Lackawanna County, PA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lackawanna County, PA
Annual Savings:
$9,218 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lackawanna County, PA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -49% lower | |
| Food | -13% lower | |
| Transport | -8% lower | |
| Healthcare | 31% higher | |
| Other Costs | -42% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -36% lower |
In Lackawanna County, PA, modeled annual costs are $42,630 compared with $59,885 in Montgomery County, PA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Lackawanna County, PA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Lackawanna County, PA and Montgomery County, PA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
