Allentown, PA vs Ithaca, NY: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Ithaca, NY is 3.4% more expensive than Allentown, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Allentown works out to about $77,500 in Ithaca, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.7% more in Ithaca. Goods are 0.9% lower and other services 0.0% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 22.4% higher in Ithaca.
- Typical asking rent is $1,987 a month in Ithaca and $1,841 in Allentown, $1,752 a year more in Ithaca (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $350,000 in Ithaca and $363,000 in Allentown.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.5%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.7% higher in Ithaca than in Allentown
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
All items Allentown, PA: 100.0 Ithaca, NY: 103.3
Goods Allentown, PA: 100.6 Ithaca, NY: 99.7
Housing (rents) Allentown, PA: 105.5 Ithaca, NY: 128.4
Utilities Allentown, PA: 107.6 Ithaca, NY: 131.6
Other services Allentown, PA: 97.8 Ithaca, NY: 97.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.0 | 103.3 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.5 | 128.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 131.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Category | Allentown | Ithaca | Ithaca vs Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.0 | 103.3 | +3.4% |
| Goods | 100.6 | 99.7 | −0.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.5 | 128.4 | +21.7% |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 131.6 | +22.4% |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,841 | $1,987 | +7.9% |
| Typical home value | $363,000 | $350,000 | −3.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Allentown | $75,000 | $77,500 | +3.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Allentown and Ithaca has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 3.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 100.2 |
| 2009 | 102.4 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 101.1 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 101.5 |
| 2012 | 99.9 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 99.5 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 103.3 |
| 2016 | 101.1 | 102.0 |
| 2017 | 101.7 | 104.9 |
| 2018 | 99.2 | 101.6 |
| 2019 | 99.1 | 103.7 |
| 2020 | 99.7 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 98.1 | 98.7 |
| 2023 | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| 2024 | 100.0 | 103.3 |
Goods
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.3 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.5 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 98.2 | 98.0 |
| 2012 | 98.5 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 98.9 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 98.6 | 97.0 |
| 2015 | 100.0 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 100.1 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 98.9 | 98.6 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.4 |
| 2022 | 97.5 | 96.4 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 100.6 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.1 | 90.6 |
| 2009 | 104.3 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 108.5 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 102.1 | 111.3 |
| 2012 | 103.7 | 116.5 |
| 2013 | 101.3 | 95.4 |
| 2014 | 103.6 | 109.2 |
| 2015 | 102.4 | 119.3 |
| 2016 | 103.0 | 108.2 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 124.5 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 112.4 |
| 2019 | 102.9 | 136.0 |
| 2020 | 101.5 | 111.7 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 124.6 |
| 2022 | 102.9 | 106.4 |
| 2023 | 98.9 | 101.3 |
| 2024 | 105.5 | 128.4 |
Utilities
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.6 | 140.2 |
| 2009 | 116.2 | 140.1 |
| 2010 | 112.4 | 135.8 |
| 2011 | 114.0 | 134.4 |
| 2012 | 108.3 | 130.2 |
| 2013 | 107.1 | 131.9 |
| 2014 | 105.3 | 132.7 |
| 2015 | 104.7 | 124.2 |
| 2016 | 108.0 | 122.5 |
| 2017 | 111.2 | 125.6 |
| 2018 | 113.1 | 131.8 |
| 2019 | 113.4 | 131.6 |
| 2020 | 110.7 | 132.1 |
| 2021 | 108.3 | 134.2 |
| 2022 | 108.8 | 132.1 |
| 2023 | 115.5 | 130.8 |
| 2024 | 107.6 | 131.6 |
Other services
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 100.7 |
| 2009 | 101.8 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 100.5 | 99.6 |
| 2011 | 99.6 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 99.3 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 101.5 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | 101.5 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 103.0 | 102.7 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.4 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 99.2 |
| 2024 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,987 in Ithaca vs $1,841 in Allentown
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,029 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,041 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,053 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,044 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,057 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,066 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,077 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,075 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,098 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,109 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,118 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,124 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,140 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,152 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,166 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,156 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,173 | $1,309 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,199 | $1,327 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,212 | $1,411 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,212 | $1,358 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,228 | $1,392 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,241 | $1,343 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,283 | $1,445 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,318 | $1,436 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,339 | $1,377 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,415 | $1,445 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,473 | $1,456 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,511 | $1,579 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,545 | $1,647 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,592 | $1,723 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,596 | $1,595 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,586 | $1,704 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,624 | $1,742 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,642 | $1,761 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,665 | $1,763 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,654 | $1,774 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,671 | $1,806 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,703 | $1,815 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,729 | $1,863 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,730 | $1,874 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,744 | $1,868 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,768 | $1,899 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,786 | $1,914 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,781 | $1,883 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,807 | $1,971 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,830 | $1,917 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,841 | $1,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $350,000 in Ithaca vs $363,000 in Allentown
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Allentown, PA
- Ithaca, NY
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Allentown, PA | Ithaca, NY | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $187K | $196K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $187K | $197K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $190K | $201K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $191K | $204K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $192K | $204K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $193K | $204K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $194K | $206K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $196K | $210K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $198K | $212K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $200K | $215K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $202K | $217K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $204K | $219K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $207K | $220K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $209K | $221K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $212K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $214K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $215K | $223K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $217K | $221K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $218K | $222K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $221K | $225K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $226K | $228K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $230K | $229K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $234K | $233K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $246K | $243K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $258K | $247K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $269K | $256K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $274K | $264K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $277K | $270K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $291K | $279K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $305K | $293K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $306K | $298K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $307K | $295K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $308K | $295K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $314K | $303K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $322K | $312K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $326K | $316K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $332K | $318K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $338K | $326K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $341K | $331K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $344K | $334K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $347K | $336K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $348K | $336K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $352K | $339K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $354K | $342K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $357K | $345K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $359K | $350K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $363K | $350K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.