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 98, 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 higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Allentown ranks as #131 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Allentown ranks as the #122 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Allentown, check out:
Allentown Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Allentown. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Allentown is 97.
The Groceries index in Allentown is 99.
The Health index in Allentown is 85.
The Housing index in Allentown is 104.
The Transportation index in Allentown is 100.
The Utilities index in Allentown is 104.
| Living Expense | Allentown | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Allentown Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Allentown is $309,698.
The Median Rent in Allentown is $1,317.
The Median Income in Allentown is $55,494.
The Home Value To Income in Allentown is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Allentown is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Allentown | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $309,698 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,317 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,494 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 108, 1.1x Allentown.
West Freehold, NJ has a cost of living index of 140, 1.4x Allentown.
Mercerville, NJ has a cost of living index of 122, 1.2x Allentown.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levittown, PA | 50,926 | 108 | 1.1x |
| West Freehold, NJ | 14,883 | 140 | 1.4x |
| Mercerville, NJ | 13,535 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Hamilton Square, NJ | 11,622 | 127 | 1.3x |
| White Horse, NJ | 10,507 | 115 | 1.2x |
| Kendall Park, NJ | 10,011 | 140 | 1.4x |
| Twin Rivers, NJ | 8,382 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Fort Dix, NJ | 7,984 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Yorketown, NJ | 7,261 | 142 | 1.4x |
| Yardville, NJ | 6,301 | 120 | 1.2x |
