Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Boulder vs Scranton

Boulder vs Scranton

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Scranton 41% cheaper High / Moderate

Boulder

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Scranton

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Nomad Cost

$5,201

Boulder

$3,061

Scranton

Internet

279

Mbps

279

Mbps

Safety

High

Boulder

Moderate

Scranton

Air Quality

5/5

Boulder

5/5

Scranton

Healthcare

Low

Boulder

Low

Scranton

Population

108.1k

Boulder

76.7k

Scranton

Boulder and Scranton are both in United States, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

The monthly savings are substantial — Scranton at $3061/mo costs 41% less than Boulder at $5201/mo, adding up to $25680 over a year.

For families, Boulder costs $7452.337499999999/mo compared to Scranton's $5258.0625/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Internet speeds are nearly identical — Boulder at 279 Mbps and Scranton at 279 Mbps. Both handle video calls and uploads well.

Quality of Life

Boulder has a stronger safety profile than Scranton, which may be a deciding factor for solo travelers or families.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Boulder and Scranton.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Boulder is June (around 29 degrees, 0mm rain, score 436), while Scranton peaks in September (25 degrees, 0mm rain, score 399). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

BoulderScranton

Nomad$5,201/mo$3,061/mo

Expat$3,296/mo$2,149/mo

Local$2,129/mo$1,502/mo

Family$7,452/mo$5,258/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

BoulderScranton

City Speed

279 Mbps

Country Speed279 Mbps279 Mbps

Environment & Health

BoulderScranton

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionModerateLow

ClimateModerateModerate

Humidity3281

Quality of Life

BoulderScranton

SafetyHighModerate

HealthcareLowLow

Monthly Weather Comparison

Boulder

Scranton

Jan

-0°

0mm376

0°

0mm325

Feb

2°

0mm376

2°

0mm339

Mar

9°

0mm386

8°

0mm344

Apr

15°

0mm396

13°

1mm333

May

19°

0mm413

23°

0mm377

Jun

29°

0mm436

29°

0mm394

Jul

30°

0mm426

32°

0mm397

Aug

30°

0mm423

28°

1mm371

Sep

26°

0mm436

25°

0mm399

Oct

20°

0mm416

16°

0mm359

Nov

6°

0mm376

8°

0mm349

Dec

4°

0mm376

-1°

0mm325

Who Should Choose Boulder?

Excellent for video calls and large uploads with 279 Mbps
High safety rating for peace of mind
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Smaller city feel with 108.1k residents
Peak season in June — 29 degrees, score 436

Who Should Choose Scranton?

Excellent for video calls and large uploads with 279 Mbps
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Smaller city feel with 76.7k residents
Peak season in September — 25 degrees, score 399

Overall Verdict

The data favors Boulder as the more well-rounded choice. At $5201/mo versus Scranton's $3061/mo, that is a 41% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Boulder Scranton

ItemBoulderScrantonDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$28.5—

—

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$90—

—

McMeal or equivalent combo$9.25$8

14%

Cappuccino (regular)$4.62$4.6

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$7.25—

—

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$8$4

50%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$3.25$1.5

54%

Water (0.33L)$2.11$1.25

41%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.13$0.92

19%

White bread (500g)$4.33$2.41

44%

White rice (1kg)$3.7$3.16

15%

Eggs (12)$5.23$2.64

50%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$27.78$11.02

60%

Beef round (1kg)$17.84$6.37

64%

Local cheese (1kg)$17.09$14.23

17%

Apples (1kg)$4.6$6

23%

Bananas (1kg)$2.25$1.96

13%

Oranges (1kg)$4.96$8.82

44%

Tomatoes (1kg)$2.28$3.23

29%

Potatoes (1kg)$2.01$2.46

18%

Onions (1kg)$2.23$2.09

Lettuce (1 head)$2.36$1.66

30%

Water (1.5L bottle)$2.55$0.89

65%

Wine, mid-range bottle$15$11

27%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$3.43—

—

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3$4.25

29%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$10.5$8.86

16%

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$2.5$1.75

30%

Monthly transport pass$145$60

59%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$2.5$3

17%

Taxi per 1km$1.4$1.94

28%

Taxi 1hr waiting—$12

—

Gasoline (1L)$1.28$1.28

Volkswagen Golf (new)$35,750$19,000

47%

Toyota Corolla (new)$23,283.33$26,000

10%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$151.71$185.51

18%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$77.86$85

Mobile prepaid per minute—$0.1

—

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$81.25$28

66%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$30—

—

Cinema, 1 ticket$14$11

21%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$1,900$1,800

International primary school/yr$30,000$7,800

74%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$53.56$37.49

30%

Summer dress (chain store)$41.25$41.33

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$88.33$76.33

14%

Men's leather business shoes$157.5$75

52%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$2,466.67$1,550

37%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$1,975$1,000

49%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$4,166.67$2,500

40%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$3,150$1,500

52%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$6,727.44—

—

Price per m², outside centre$5,651.05$1,076.39

81%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$5,177.78$2,178

58%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$5.43$4.45

18%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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