Living Cost Compare
Allentown

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Allentown, PA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,403 in Allentown, PA and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 25% higher in Tampa, FL. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Allentown, PA
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,043
$1,242
+19% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,100
$1,324
+20% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,271
$1,673
+32% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,431
$1,729
+21% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$188,900
$375,300
+99% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$53,403
$71,302
+34% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,990
$48,940
+0% in Allentown, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
35.6 yr
+3.2 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
42.3%
50.2%
+7.9 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
19.4%
44.6%
+25.2 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
24.8 min
24.7 min
+0.1 min in Allentown, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
274.5
443.2
+61% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
1,591.5
1,473.2
+7% in Allentown, PA

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
73.4°F
+22.2°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
46.3 in
+0.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Allentown, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
15.2
+30% in Allentown, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$23.62
+23% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL
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 / FL)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Allentown vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Allentown or Tampa?
Allentown, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Allentown than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $44,000 a year in Allentown versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Allentown or Tampa?
Allentown is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).