Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Montpellier Cost of Living Comparison Between Allentown, PA and Montpellier

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,695 per month in Allentown, PA vs $1,983 in Montpellier, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,831 per month in Allentown, PA vs $2,927 in Montpellier, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,967 per month in Allentown, PA vs $3,871 in Montpellier, rent included.

Allentown, PA costs about 36% more than Montpellier, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Allentown, PA and Montpellier sit above the global median – Allentown, PA by 102%, Montpellier by 48%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.32 $20.32
$17.30 €15.11
17.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 $123
$58.6 €51.2
110.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 $10.16
$13.07 €11.42
-22.26%
Cappuccino
$5.81 $5.81
$3.67 €3.21
58.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.69 €2.35
-12.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.89 €1.66
-4.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$5.93 €5.18
-14.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.80 $7.80
$4.51 €3.94
72.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.42 €1.24
-18.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 $2.22
$3.14 €2.74
-29.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 $2.41
$2.62 €2.29
-8.02%
Eggs
$3.30 $3.30
$4.23 €3.70
-21.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 $14.71
$18.64 €16.28
-21.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 $6.64
$15.23 €13.31
-56.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.30 $20.30
$25.87 €22.60
-21.53%
Apples (1kg)
$7.31 $7.31
$3.21 €2.80
127.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 $1.41
$2.24 €1.96
-37.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.52 €2.21
9.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.48 $6.48
$3.85 €3.36
68.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.37 €2.07
9.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.65 €2.31
24.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.58 €1.38
40.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.56 €0.49
358.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 $9.89
$13.92 €12.17
-28.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.79 $14.79
$8.19 €7.16
80.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 $2.33
$3.05 €2.66
-23.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 $2.61
$3.96 €3.46
-34.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.80 €1.57
25.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.0 $59.0
$17.70 €15.47
233.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 $4.90
$5.35 €4.68
-8.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.59 €1.39
38.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.32 $42.32
$33.49 €29.26
26.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.02 €1.76
-52.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$37.4K €32.6K
-20.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$38.5K €33.6K
-32.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$152 $152
$189 €165
-19.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.98 $49.98
$28.13 €24.57
77.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0 $63.0
$34.31 €29.98
83.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.20 $31.20
$38.30 €33.46
-18.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.98 €25.32
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.45 $11.45
$13.69 €11.96
-16.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$850 $850
$779 €681
9.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K $11.5K
$8,217 €7,180
39.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.71 $35.71
$102 €89.0
-64.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.16 $47.16
$44.38 €38.77
6.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.9 $72.9
$107 €93.2
-31.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8 $60.8
$183 €160
-66.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,505 $1,505
$850 €743
77.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,487 $1,487
$765 €669
94.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,495 $2,495
$1,384 €1,209
80.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,035 $2,035
$1,107 €967
83.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,601 $2,601
$5,115 €4,469
-49.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,202 $2,202
$3,926 €3,430
-43.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Allentown, PA
Montpellier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,976 $2,976
$2,699 €2,358
10.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
3.64
76.92%

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

Last update for Allentown, PA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Montpellier: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,505 in Allentown, PA versus $850 in Montpellier. 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 10% higher in Allentown, PA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Allentown, PA versus $59.0 in Montpellier. Groceries tell a different story – $384 in Allentown, PA vs $406 in Montpellier – so Allentown, PA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Montpellier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Allentown, PA or Montpellier?
Allentown, PA costs about 36% more than Montpellier, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Montpellier?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,042 per month in Allentown, PA and $2,974 in Montpellier. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Allentown, PA or Montpellier?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montpellier, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Allentown, PA compared to Montpellier?
Public transport costs about 233% less in Montpellier. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Allentown, PA and in Montpellier?
Kindergarten costs $850 per month in Allentown, PA and $779 in Montpellier. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Allentown, PA or in Montpellier?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montpellier, where all-in costs run around $1,983, than in Allentown, PA at $2,695. In Montpellier it covers expenses comfortably, while in Allentown, PA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Allentown, PA or Montpellier?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montpellier costs $1,983 versus $2,695 in Allentown, PA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Allentown, PA compared to Montpellier?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Allentown, PA or to Montpellier?
If budget matters most, go with Montpellier. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Allentown, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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