CostIndexUSA

Allentown, PA vs Bloomington, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Allentown
100
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Bloomington is moderately cheaper than Allentown — 6.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Allentown, you would need $74,800 in Bloomington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing29.2%
Allentown
105.5
Bloomington
74.7
🛒 Groceries7.0%
Allentown
100.6
Bloomington
93.6
🚗 Transportation+1.9%
Allentown
102.6
Bloomington
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.8%
Allentown
92.9
Bloomington
94.6
Utilities16.7%
Allentown
107.6
Bloomington
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Allentown to see what you'd need to earn in Bloomington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Bloomington, IL
$74,800
$5,200 less needed in Bloomington

Formula: salary × (93.5 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.9350. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Allentown, PA

Median Home Price
$349,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
105.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Bloomington, IL

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Allentown has 29.2% lower housing costs compared to Bloomington.

Income & Job Market

Allentown, PA

Median Household Income
$81,200
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
125,845
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailLogisticsFinance

Bloomington, IL

Median Household Income
$77,200
Per Capita Income
$44,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
78,902
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceEducationHealthcareManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Allentown, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Bloomington, IL
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.