What is the cost of living in Bethlehem, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bethlehem has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Bethlehem has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Bethlehem ranks as #156 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Bethlehem ranks as the #97 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Bethlehem, check out:
Bethlehem Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bethlehem. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bethlehem is 100.
The Groceries index in Bethlehem is 96.
The Health index in Bethlehem is 103.
The Housing index in Bethlehem is 101.
The Transportation index in Bethlehem is 97.
The Utilities index in Bethlehem is 98.
| Living Expense | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Bethlehem 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
Bethlehem, 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 Bethlehem is $351,352.
The Median Rent in Bethlehem is $1,382.
The Median Income in Bethlehem is $68,879.
The Home Value To Income in Bethlehem is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bethlehem is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $351,352 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,382 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,879 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Bethlehem, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Bethlehem Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Bethlehem | 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 Bethlehem Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Bethlehem | 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 Bethlehem Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $125.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $86.42 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $137.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bethlehem Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.44 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bethlehem Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Bethlehem | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $210.1 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.81 | $192.25 |
Bethlehem SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bethlehem
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Bethlehem. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Allentown, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Bethlehem.
Fullerton, PA has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Bethlehem.
Emmaus, PA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Bethlehem.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PA | 125,976 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Fullerton, PA | 16,724 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Emmaus, PA | 11,889 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Northampton, PA | 10,400 | 101 | 1.0x |
| Perkasie, PA | 9,216 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Ancient Oaks, PA | 7,777 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Middletown, PA | 7,628 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Wescosville, PA | 7,148 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Catasauqua, PA | 6,541 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Nazareth, PA | 6,043 | 98 | 1.0x |
