Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Evansville

Indiana

$950/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 $950 in Evansville, IN. Overall, Evansville, IN is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $52,251 in Evansville, IN — about 2% higher in Allentown, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Evansville, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$741
+29% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$768
+30% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,022
+20% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,167
+18% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$129,100
+32% in Allentown, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$52,251
+2% in Allentown, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$46,540
+5% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
38.1 yr
+5.7 yr in Evansville, IN
Homeownership
42.3%
53.9%
+11.6 pp in Evansville, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
22.3%
+2.9 pp in Evansville, IN
Avg Commute
24.8 min
18.7 min
+6.1 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
1,210.5
+341% in Evansville, IN
Property Crime
1,591.5
3,716.2
+134% in Evansville, IN

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
56.4°F
+5.2°F in Evansville, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
45.3 in
+0.0 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Evansville, IN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
18.1
+16% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$13.70
+29% in Allentown, PA

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 Evansville, IN
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 / IN)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
2.95%
+0.1 pp in PA

Allentown vs Evansville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Evansville?
Evansville, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Evansville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $31,000 in Evansville.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Evansville?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Evansville under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).