Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Allentown, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 3% higher in New Orleans, LA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$953
+9% in Allentown, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,019
+7% in Allentown, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,287
+1% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,392
+3% in Allentown, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$296,400
+57% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$55,339
+4% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$47,290
+3% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
38.4 yr
+6.0 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
42.3%
50.5%
+8.2 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
42.0%
+22.6 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
24.8 min
22.7 min
+2.1 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
1,361.1
+396% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
1,591.5
5,089.6
+220% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+19.4°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
62.3 in
+16.9 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Allentown, PA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
14.2
+34% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$16.62
+13% in Allentown, PA

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 New Orleans, LA
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 / LA)
6%
5%
+1.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
3.00%
+0.1 pp in PA

Allentown vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Allentown, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or New Orleans?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).