Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Portland?

Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Portland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Portland?

Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Allentown vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Allentown, PA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 40% higher in Portland, OR. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Allentown, PA

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,043

$1,294

+24% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,100

$1,440

+31% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,271

$1,741

+37% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,431

$2,053

+43% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$188,900

$557,600

+195% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$53,403

$88,792

+66% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,990

$60,690

+24% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

32.4 yr

38.6 yr

+6.2 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

42.3%

52.8%

+10.5 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

19.4%

53.5%

+34.1 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.8 min

24.6 min

+0.2 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

274.5

732.3

+167% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

1,591.5

5,609.4

+252% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+3.3°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

42.9 in

+2.5 in in Allentown, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Portland, OR

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

21.6

16.3

+25% in Allentown, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$20.59

+7% in Portland, OR

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Allentown, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

9.90%

+6.8 pp in OR

Allentown vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Portland?: Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Portland?: Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).