Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/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 $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Allentown, PA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 6% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$950
+9% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,181
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,508
+19% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,639
+15% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$252,400
+34% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$56,584
+6% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$61,470
+25% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
36.4 yr
+4.0 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
42.3%
43.3%
+1.0 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
23.1%
+3.7 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Avg Commute
24.8 min
29.9 min
+5.1 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
401.7
+46% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,591.5
1,478.4
+7% in Allentown, PA

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
52.5°F
+1.3°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
42.7 in
+2.6 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
27.4
+27% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$23.33
+22% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
6.99%
+3.9 pp in CT

Allentown vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Bridgeport?
Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Bridgeport?
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 Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Bridgeport?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).