Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/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 $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 17% higher in Allentown, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$857
+18% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,004
+9% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,005
+21% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,188
+17% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$138,600
+27% in Allentown, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$44,376
+17% in Allentown, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$47,770
+2% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
35.9 yr
+3.5 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
42.3%
45.1%
+2.8 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
30.7%
+11.3 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
24.8 min
21.5 min
+3.3 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
1,274.7
+364% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
1,591.5
4,233
+166% in Birmingham, AL

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
63.3°F
+12.1°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
53.7 in
+8.4 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

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

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
16.8
+22% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.64
+18% in Birmingham, AL

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 Birmingham, AL
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 / AL)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
5.00%
+1.9 pp in AL

Allentown vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Birmingham?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Birmingham?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Birmingham?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).