Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,340/mo est.

vs
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,340 in Allentown, PA versus $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 10% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Fayetteville, AR

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$709
+32% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$817
+26% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$999
+21% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,430
+0% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$322,500
+71% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$59,074
+11% in Fayetteville, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$46,610
+5% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
28.7 yr
+3.7 yr in Allentown, PA
Homeownership
42.3%
41.9%
+0.4 pp in Allentown, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
49.8%
+30.4 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
24.8 min
18.2 min
+6.6 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
429.4
+56% in Fayetteville, AR
Property Crime
1,591.5
2,392.2
+50% in Fayetteville, AR

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
57.1°F
+5.9°F in Fayetteville, AR
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
48.5 in
+3.2 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Allentown, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.7
14.1
+35% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.08
$27.86
+7% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR
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 / AR)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
3.90%
+0.8 pp in AR

Allentown vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Allentown, PA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Fayetteville?
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 Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Fayetteville?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).