City Comparison

Allentown vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Allentown

Pennsylvania
98
Average
$232,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$55,500
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

13.3%

Allentown is 13.3% less expensive than Roswell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Allentown would need approximately $86,480 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
109
Allentown
187
Roswell
Groceries
101
Allentown
101
Roswell
Utilities
102
Allentown
98
Roswell
Transportation
103
Allentown
110
Roswell
Healthcare
83
Allentown
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Allentown has the same purchasing power as $86,480 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $65,044 in Allentown.

Living in Allentown vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Allentown's housing index of 109 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $232,000 vs $647,000. The $415,000 difference in home prices means roughly $26,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,225/mo in Allentown compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Allentown and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Allentown vs $480/month in Roswell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Allentown and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Allentown vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 83 in Allentown and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,500 in Allentown and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,633 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,295/month to housing in Allentown vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Allentown, median rent of $1,225/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 78 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Allentown is 13.3% more affordable overall with an index of 98 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Allentown has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,480 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Allentown's housing index is 109 with median homes at $232,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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