Allentown, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

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 95, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Allentown is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Allentown ranks as the #99 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • Allentown ranks as the #2,449 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Allentown is $145,700.

  • The median income in Allentown is $47,703.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
95
Allentown's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
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 95, which is 0.9x 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 97.

The standard of living in Allentown ranks as #99 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Allentown ranks as the #148 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Allentown, check out:

99 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
2,449 out of 6,412
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 102.

  • The Groceries index in Allentown is 100.

  • The Health index in Allentown is 97.

  • The Housing index in Allentown is 76.

  • The Transportation index in Allentown is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Allentown is 110.

Living Expense Allentown Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 95 97 100
Services 102 99 100
Groceries 100 101 100
Health 97 97 100
Housing 76 85 100
Transportation 106 105 100
Utilities 110 106 100
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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Allentown is $145,700.

  • The Median Rent in Allentown is $1,100.

  • The Median Income in Allentown is $47,703.

  • The Home Value To Income in Allentown is 3.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Allentown is 0.28x.

Statistic Allentown Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $145,700 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $1,100 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $47,703 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.1x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.28x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Allentown, PA
$145,700
Median Home Value
$1,100
Median Rent
$47,703
Median Income

Allentown, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Allentown Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.04 $1.06
Movie $11.14 $10.68
Bowling $12.36 $14.67
Haircut $18.35 $18.62
Beauty Salon $43.55 $39.05

Detailed Allentown Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $4.23 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.36 $1.39
Milk $2.09 $2.05
Potatoes $3.02 $3.29
Pizza $10.21 $10.62
Beer $9.69 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.05 $2.34

Detailed Allentown Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Optometrist $106.13 $108.57
Doctor $75.54 $116.17
Dentist $110.86 $99.13

Detailed Allentown Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.54 $2.22
Tire Balancing $46.64 $50.07

Detailed Allentown Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Allentown Pennsylvania
All Electricity $186.66 $167.67
Phone $189.07 $175.64

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 114, 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 116, 1.2x Allentown.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Allentown
Levittown, PA 51,100 114 1.2x
West Freehold, NJ 14,565 136 1.4x
Mercerville, NJ 14,234 116 1.2x
Hamilton Square, NJ 12,244 130 1.4x
Kendall Park, NJ 10,560 131 1.4x
White Horse, NJ 9,710 111 1.2x
Twin Rivers, NJ 8,049 114 1.2x
Fort Dix, NJ 7,904 138 1.5x
Yorketown, NJ 7,316 144 1.5x
Yardville, NJ 6,242 117 1.2x

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