| Index | Allentown | Pennsylvania | National |
| Cost of living | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 101 | 101 | 100 |
The cost of living in Allentown affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Allentown is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Allentown are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Allentown can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 10 residents in Allentown to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 30% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 70% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Wondering if Allentown is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Allentown, for example, the median home price is 24.3% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 9.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Allentown boasting a median household income of $66,002, which is 18.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Allentown, the groceries index is 1.5% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Allentown, the transportation index is 4% higher than the national average.
The Allentown cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $99,511 | $8,293 | $2,322 | $2,986 |
| Renters | $50,617 | $4,218 | $1,181 | $1,519 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | 3.07% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| DeSales University, PA | 954 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Slatedale, PA | 507 | 86 | 13.5% |
| Hereford, PA | 1,522 | 88 | 12.5% |
| Palmerton, PA | 5,528 | 92 | 8.2% |
| Slatington, PA | 4,423 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Allentown, PA | 123,801 | 96 | 3.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Vallejo, CA | 124,444 | 144 | 43.6% |
| Sugar Land, TX | 123,135 | 125 | 24.6% |
| East Los Angeles, CA | 124,794 | 145 | 45.3% |
| Arvada, CO | 122,800 | 138 | 37.6% |
| Wilmington, NC | 125,049 | 109 | 9.2% |
| Allentown, PA | 123,801 | 96 | 3.9% |
Here are the best places to live in Pennsylvania
These are the largest cities in Pennsylvania
Safest States In The US
Most Dangerous Cities In The US