Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 9% higher in El Paso, 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
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$707
+32% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$816
+26% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$993
+22% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,252
+13% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$171,700
+9% in Allentown, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$58,734
+10% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$39,510
+19% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
34.1 yr
+1.7 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
42.3%
60.2%
+17.9 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
27.5%
+8.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Avg Commute
24.8 min
23.7 min
+1.1 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
319.7
+16% in El Paso, TX
Property Crime
1,591.5
1,509.3
+5% 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
64.6°F
+13.4°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
9.7 in
+35.6 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)
—
$1.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Sun Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
16.4
+24% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$30.48
+59% in El Paso, 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 El Paso, 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 El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in El Paso?
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 El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or El Paso?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); El Paso 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).