Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Indianapolis, IN is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 15% higher in Indianapolis, IN. 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
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$933
+11% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$963
+12% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,132
+11% in Allentown, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,304
+9% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$207,000
+10% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$62,995
+18% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$49,340
+1% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
34.1 yr
+1.7 yr in Indianapolis, IN
Homeownership
42.3%
55.3%
+13.0 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
34.2%
+14.8 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.8 min
24.3 min
+0.5 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
936.6
+241% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
1,591.5
3,351.7
+111% in Indianapolis, 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
53.2°F
+2.0°F in Indianapolis, IN
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
42.4 in
+2.9 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

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 Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Indianapolis?
Indianapolis, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Indianapolis?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Indianapolis 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).