Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montpellier and Allentown, PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Montpellier: $1,948 a month against $2,765 in Allentown, PA, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montpellier, France
Allentown, PA, United States
Montpellier
🇫🇷 France
$1,948
/mo nomad
Allentown, PA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,765
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montpellier and in Allentown, PA

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

A single person spends $1,948 per month in Montpellier vs $2,765 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

  • Montpellier $1,948
  • Allentown, PA $2,765

A couple spends around $2,955 per month in Montpellier vs $3,896 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

  • Montpellier $2,955
  • Allentown, PA $3,896

A family of three spends $3,962 per month in Montpellier vs $5,027 in Allentown, PA, rent included.

  • Montpellier $3,962
  • Allentown, PA $5,027

Montpellier is about 30% cheaper than Allentown, PA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Montpellier and Allentown, PA sit above the global median – Montpellier by 43%, Allentown, PA by 103%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.70 €15.00
$19.81 $19.81
-15.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.1 €64.8
$91.8 $91.8
-21.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.24 €11.90
$12.23 $12.23
8.26%
Cappuccino
$3.65 €3.28
$5.60 $5.60
-34.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 €2.74
$2.62 $2.62
16.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 €1.78
$1.57 $1.57
26.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.75 €5.16
$4.92 $4.92
16.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €4.11
$5.84 $5.84
-21.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.21
$1.19 $1.19
13.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 €1.98
$2.10 $2.10
4.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 €2.43
$2.43 $2.43
11.52%
Eggs
$3.72 €3.34
$3.65 $3.65
1.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.67 €16.77
$15.62 $15.62
19.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.81 €12.41
$8.37 $8.37
64.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.91 €22.37
$18.95 $18.95
31.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 €2.58
$6.78 $6.78
-57.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.46 €2.21
$1.65 $1.65
49.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 €2.56
$2.86 $2.86
-0.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 €3.52
$6.65 $6.65
-41.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 €2.09
$2.68 $2.68
-13.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 €2.67
$3.30 $3.30
-9.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.74 €1.57
$2.23 $2.23
-21.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.57
$2.53 $2.53
-75.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.24 €12.80
$11.71 $11.71
21.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.64 €6.86
$14.72 $14.72
-48.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.65 €3.28
$2.33 $2.33
56.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.46
$2.71 $2.71
1.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 €1.82
$2.55 $2.55
-20.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.08 €1.87
$61.0 $61.0
-96.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 €4.53
$2.94 $2.94
71.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 €1.47
$2.20 $2.20
-25.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.42 €30.02
$41.24 $41.24
-18.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.91
$1.10 $1.10
93.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.9K
$27.2K $27.2K
26.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K €35.0K
$26.5K $26.5K
47.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 €198
$188 $188
17.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.67 €14.98
$54.2 $54.2
-69.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.14 €28.87
$70.6 $70.6
-54.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.24 €31.66
$30.16 $30.16
16.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08 €12.65
$25.42 $25.42
-44.61%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 €12.39
$13.03 $13.03
5.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$731 €657
$1,204 $1,204
-39.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K €11.9K
$11.8K $11.8K
12.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.0 €80.0
$37.88 $37.88
135.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.8 €57.3
$51.3 $51.3
24.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.7
$89.7 $89.7
13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177 €159
$118 $118
50.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$847 €761
$1,668 $1,668
-49.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$735 €661
$1,470 $1,470
-49.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 €1,416
$2,481 $2,481
-36.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,231 €1,106
$2,048 $2,048
-39.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,909 €4,409
$2,166 $2,166
126.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,599 €3,233
$1,905 $1,905
88.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montpellier
Allentown, PA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,777 €2,495
$3,074 $3,074
-9.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.43
-40.75%

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

Last update for Montpellier: October 25, 2026

Last update for Allentown, PA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montpellier
$735
Allentown, PA
$1.5K 99.9% $734
Groceries & Markets
Montpellier
$388
Allentown, PA
$392 1% $4
Eating Out
Montpellier
$275
Allentown, PA
$315 14.6% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montpellier
$269
Allentown, PA
$313 16.4% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Montpellier
$194
Allentown, PA
$134 31.3% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Montpellier
$63
Allentown, PA
$56 10.5% $6.6
Getting Around
Montpellier
$23
Allentown, PA
$85 264% $62

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $847 in Montpellier versus $1,668 in Allentown, PA. 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 11% 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 $72 in Montpellier versus $92 in Allentown, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $392 – making Montpellier the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Montpellier
🇺🇸 Allentown, PA
🕒 Local time
02:22 2:22 AM
21:22 9:22 PM
5 h behind Montpellier
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
302,454
120,443
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montpellier Allentown, PA 6,290 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montpellier
  • Allentown, PA

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
Montpellier vs Allentown, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montpellier or Allentown, PA?
Allentown, PA costs about 42% more than Montpellier, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. 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 Montpellier and in Allentown, PA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,922 per month in Montpellier and $4,147 in Allentown, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montpellier or Allentown, PA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Montpellier, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $847 there versus $1,668 in Allentown, PA.
How do dining costs compare in Montpellier and in Allentown, PA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $72 in Montpellier and $92 in Allentown, PA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How expensive is transport in Montpellier compared to Allentown, PA?
Public transport costs about 97% less in Montpellier. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Montpellier or in Allentown, PA?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Montpellier, where all-in costs run around $1,948, than in Allentown, PA at $2,765. 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 families?
Families tend to lean toward Montpellier – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Montpellier or to Allentown, PA?
If budget matters most, go with Montpellier. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Allentown, PA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Montpellier vs other spots: cost of living compared

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