Allentown, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Allentown, PA Summary

Cost of living in Allentown research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Allentown is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Allentown is 97, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Allentown is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Allentown ranks as the #113 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.

  • Allentown ranks as the #2,245 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Allentown is $305,255.

  • The median income in Allentown is $53,403.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
97
Allentown's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Allentown, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Allentown has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Allentown has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.

The standard of living in Allentown ranks as #113 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Allentown ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Allentown, check out:

113 out of 255
In Pennsylvania
2,245 out of 6,489
In America

Allentown Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Allentown. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Allentown is 107.

  • The Groceries index in Allentown is 99.

  • The Health index in Allentown is 97.

  • The Housing index in Allentown is 85.

  • The Transportation index in Allentown is 104.

  • The Utilities index in Allentown is 108.

Living Expense Allentown Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 97 100 100
Services 107 101 100
Groceries 99 101 100
Health 97 95 100
Housing 85 93 100
Transportation 104 108 100
Utilities 108 108 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Allentown Cost of Living Vs. PA

Allentown, PA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Allentown is $305,255.

  • The Median Rent in Allentown is $1,269.

  • The Median Income in Allentown is $53,403.

  • The Home Value To Income in Allentown is 5.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Allentown is 0.29x.

Statistic Allentown Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $305,255 $281,782 $303,400
Median Rent $1,269 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $53,403 $76,081 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.7x 3.7x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.29x 0.18x 0.21x
$305,255
Median Home Value
$1,269
Median Rent
$53,403
Median Income

Allentown, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Allentown Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.42 $1.28
Movie $12.43 $12.13
Bowling $19.33 $18
Haircut $23.2 $24.26
Beauty Salon $52.92 $45.56

Detailed Allentown Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $5.76 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.54 $4.67
Potatoes $5.37 $4.93
Pizza $11.57 $12.09
Beer $11.46 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.83 $3.7

Detailed Allentown Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Optometrist $125.11 $125.68
Doctor $86.42 $135.78
Dentist $137.77 $113.29

Detailed Allentown Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Gasoline $3.51 $3.46
Tire Balancing $64.44 $59.92

Detailed Allentown Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
All Electricity $210.1 $193.99
Phone $195.81 $192.25

Allentown SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
10
Education
5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Allentown

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Allentown. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Levittown, PA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Allentown.

  • West Freehold, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.4x Allentown.

  • Mercerville, NJ has a cost of living index of 118, 1.2x Allentown.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Allentown
Levittown, PA 50,930 112 1.2x
West Freehold, NJ 14,233 136 1.4x
Mercerville, NJ 13,693 118 1.2x
Hamilton Square, NJ 11,643 125 1.3x
Kendall Park, NJ 10,765 142 1.5x
White Horse, NJ 10,040 115 1.2x
Twin Rivers, NJ 8,315 118 1.2x
Fort Dix, NJ 8,034 140 1.4x
Yorketown, NJ 7,265 140 1.4x
Yardville, NJ 6,266 115 1.2x

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