Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,607 a month against $2,765 in Allentown, PA, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Allentown, PA outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Allentown, PA, United States
Austin, TX, United States
Allentown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,765
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Allentown, PA and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Allentown, PA and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,765 per month in Allentown, PA vs $2,607 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $2,765
  • Austin, TX $2,607

A couple spends around $3,896 per month in Allentown, PA vs $4,031 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $3,896
  • Austin, TX $4,031

A family of three spends $5,027 per month in Allentown, PA vs $5,454 in Austin, TX, rent included.

  • Allentown, PA $5,027
  • Austin, TX $5,454

Allentown, PA costs about 6% more than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Allentown, PA and Austin, TX sit above the global median – Allentown, PA by 103%, Austin, TX by 92%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.81 $19.81
$20.35 $20.35
-2.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.8 $91.8
$84.7 $84.7
8.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.23 $12.23
$12.12 $12.12
0.91%
Cappuccino
$5.60 $5.60
$5.65 $5.65
-0.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.68 $3.68
-28.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.36 $2.36
-33.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.92 $4.92
$7.87 $7.87
-37.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 $5.84
$8.82 $8.82
-33.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.14 $1.14
4.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 $2.10
$3.69 $3.69
-43.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.31 $3.31
-26.59%
Eggs
$3.65 $3.65
$4.15 $4.15
-12.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.62 $15.62
$12.98 $12.98
20.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 $8.37
$13.86 $13.86
-39.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.95 $18.95
$16.34 $16.34
15.97%
Apples (1kg)
$6.78 $6.78
$4.69 $4.69
44.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.45 $1.45
13.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$5.11 $5.11
-44.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$4.52 $4.52
47.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$3.08 $3.08
-12.99%
Onion (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.38 $2.38
38.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.80 $1.80
23.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.22 $2.22
13.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.71 $11.71
$9.97 $9.97
17.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$15.05 $15.05
-2.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.91 $2.91
-19.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$3.33 $3.33
-18.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.22 $1.22
109.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.0 $61.0
$40.53 $40.53
50.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.78 $2.78
5.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.65 $1.65
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.24 $41.24
$35.39 $35.39
16.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$0.95 $0.95
15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$34.2K $34.2K
-20.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.8K $26.8K
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$223 $223
-15.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.2 $54.2
$58.5 $58.5
-7.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$71.2 $71.2
-0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 $30.16
$53.0 $53.0
-43.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.42 $25.42
$16.75 $16.75
51.76%
Cinema Ticket
$13.03 $13.03
$14.06 $14.06
-7.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,204 $1,204
$1,459 $1,459
-17.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K $11.8K
$21.3K $21.3K
-44.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.88 $37.88
$52.5 $52.5
-27.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 $51.3
$42.75 $42.75
19.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 $89.7
$86.4 $86.4
3.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 $118
$104 $104
13.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,668 $1,668
$2,112 $2,112
-21.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$1,230 $1,230
19.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,481 $2,481
$3,863 $3,863
-35.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 $2,048
$2,407 $2,407
-14.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,166 $2,166
$7,426 $7,426
-70.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,905 $1,905
$3,060 $3,060
-37.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Allentown, PA
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,074 $3,074
$5,179 $5,179
-40.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.82
-5.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Allentown, PA: October 25, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Allentown, PA
$1.5K
Austin, TX
$1.2K 16.3% $239
Groceries & Markets
Allentown, PA
$392
Austin, TX
$410 4.6% $18
Eating Out
Allentown, PA
$315
Austin, TX
$348 10.4% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allentown, PA
$313
Austin, TX
$353 12.7% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Allentown, PA
$134
Austin, TX
$128 3.8% $5.1
Getting Around
Allentown, PA
$85
Austin, TX
$56 33.7% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Allentown, PA
$56
Austin, TX
$81 44.4% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,668 in Allentown, PA versus $2,112 in Austin, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 69% higher in Austin, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $92 in Allentown, PA versus $85 in Austin, TX. Groceries tell a different story – $392 in Allentown, PA vs $410 in Austin, TX – so Allentown, PA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Allentown, PA
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
16:38 4:38 PM
15:38 3:38 PM
1 h behind Allentown, PA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,443
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Allentown, PA Austin, TX 2,310 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Allentown, PA
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Allentown, PA vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Allentown, PA or Austin, TX?
Allentown, PA costs about 6% more than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Allentown, PA and in Austin, TX?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,147 per month in Allentown, PA and $3,911 in Austin, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Allentown, PA or Austin, TX?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Allentown, PA, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,668 there versus $2,112 in Austin, TX.
How expensive is transport in Allentown, PA compared to Austin, TX?
Public transport costs about 34% less in Austin, TX. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Allentown, PA and in Austin, TX?
Kindergarten costs $1,204 per month in Allentown, PA and $1,459 in Austin, TX. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Allentown, PA or in Austin, TX?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,765 in Allentown, PA and $2,607 in Austin, TX. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Allentown, PA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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