Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Allentown, PA versus $1,380 in Arlington, TX. Overall, Allentown, PA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $73,519 in Arlington, TX — about 27% higher in Arlington, TX. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Arlington, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$1,088
+4% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,183
+8% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,410
+11% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,819
+27% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$276,400
+46% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$73,519
+38% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$51,440
+5% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.6 yr
+1.2 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
42.3%
54.8%
+12.5 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
33.1%
+13.7 pp in Arlington, TX
Avg Commute
24.8 min
26.7 min
+1.9 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
494.2
+80% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
1,591.5
2,434.5
+53% in Arlington, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
65.4°F
+14.2°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
39.6 in
+5.8 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Allentown, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
N/A

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Arlington On-Demand (Via) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
16.4
+24% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$30.48
+59% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Allentown, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Allentown, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Arlington, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Allentown, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Allentown, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Allentown, PA

Average prices — Northeast vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Allentown vs Arlington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Arlington?
Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Arlington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $47,000 in Arlington.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Arlington?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Arlington under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).