| Index | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | National |
| Cost of living | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 90 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 101 | 100 |
The cost of living in Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem is 99, which is 1% 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 Bethlehem are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Bethlehem can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 5 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Bethlehem and this is how they responded. 80% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 20% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Bethlehem an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Bethlehem, the median home price is 4.4% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 13.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Bethlehem come in at $84,478, which is 3.9% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Bethlehem, the groceries index is 0.2% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Bethlehem are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $118,950 | $9,913 | $2,775 | $3,569 |
| Renters | $53,658 | $4,472 | $1,252 | $1,610 |
| 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% |
| Hereford, PA | 1,522 | 88 | 12.5% |
| Palmerton, PA | 5,528 | 92 | 8.2% |
| Slatington, PA | 4,423 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Easton, PA | 28,264 | 94 | 6.4% |
| Bethlehem, PA | 77,503 | 99 | 0.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Buckeye, AZ | 77,435 | 113 | 12.9% |
| St. Joseph, MO | 77,382 | 88 | 11.9% |
| Missoula, MT | 77,349 | 114 | 13.8% |
| Missouri City, TX | 77,696 | 110 | 9.5% |
| Baytown, TX | 77,698 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Bethlehem, PA | 77,503 | 99 | 0.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Pennsylvania
Safest Cities In The US
See the best places to live in Bethlehem
These are the 10 cheapest cities in Pennsylvania