Overall
100.0
-0.0 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Cost-of-living indicators for Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 100.0
- Overall RPP
- #91
- of 387 metros
- 105.5
- Rents RPP
- $100K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Allentown costs less than 24% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 100.0, 0.0% below the national average, with services the biggest swing at 107.6.
- 100.0
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #91
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 76%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 105.5
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $100,032 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $99,968.
What the Numbers Mean for Allentown
Allentown ranks #91 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 100.0, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ is 0.0% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Allentown's most and least expensive categories — services at 107.6 versus overall at 100.0 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $100,032 inside Allentown, while a household needs roughly $99,968 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 105.5 — 5.5% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Allentown's overall index has stayed within 1.1 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 100.6 and services at 107.6, meaning everyday spending in Allentown is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Allentown vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
100 Top 24% higher than 76% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Allentown cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
105.5 RPP
- Services
Services
107.6 RPP
- Overall
Overall
100 RPP
- Goods
Goods
100.6 RPP
What this shows Allentown's gap from the national average is led by services at 107.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Allentown's cost comes from
Metros near Allentown's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 100.4, rents 105.5). Allentown is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Allentown's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
100.6
+0.6 above avg
Services
107.6
+7.6 above avg
Rents
105.5
+5.5 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$99,968
in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$49,984
$75,000 nationally
$74,976
$125,000 nationally
$124,960
$150,000 nationally
$149,952
$200,000 nationally
$199,936
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.1 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 |
| 2009 | 102.4 |
| 2010 | 101.1 |
| 2011 | 99.8 |
| 2012 | 99.9 |
| 2013 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 99.5 |
| 2015 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 101.1 |
| 2017 | 101.7 |
| 2018 | 99.2 |
| 2019 | 99.1 |
| 2020 | 99.7 |
| 2021 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 98.1 |
| 2023 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 100.0 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ's index of 100.0.
Other PA Metros
What this means for Allentown
How to read Allentown's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $100,032 in Allentown. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 105.5 (5.5% above average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $82,602; adjusted for Allentown's price level that is about $82,628 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Allentown head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ? ▼
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 100.0, meaning it is 0.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 100.6, services at 107.6, and rents at 105.5. It ranks #91 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $99,968 in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ. Conversely, $100K earned in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ has the purchasing power of $100,032 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ? ▼
Rents in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ are indexed at 105.5, which is 5.5% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ's overall cost index changed by -1.1 points (from 101.1 to 100.0). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ? ▼
The most expensive category in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ is services at 107.6, which is 7.6% above the national average. The most affordable category is overall at 100.0, 0.0% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Kennewick-Richland. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ's 100.0.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
