Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH — about 3% higher in Allentown, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Cincinnati, OH

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$791
+24% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$817
+26% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,023
+20% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,228
+14% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$215,300
+14% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$51,707
+3% in Allentown, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$50,170
+2% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
33.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Cincinnati, OH
Homeownership
42.3%
38.9%
+3.4 pp in Allentown, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
41.3%
+21.9 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
24.8 min
23.1 min
+1.7 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
856.5
+212% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
1,591.5
3,877.7
+144% in Cincinnati, OH

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
54.3°F
+3.1°F in Cincinnati, OH
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
41.9 in
+3.4 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
19.5
+9% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.83
+19% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Allentown, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Allentown, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Allentown, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Allentown, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / OH)
6%
5.75%
+0.3 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
2.75%
+0.3 pp in PA

Allentown vs Cincinnati — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Cincinnati?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $33,000 in Cincinnati.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Cincinnati?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Cincinnati under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).