City Comparison

Beaumont vs Bethlehem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Bethlehem

Pennsylvania
97
Average
$258,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$62,600
Median Income

The Verdict

19.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 19.6%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $93,269 in Bethlehem.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
110
Bethlehem
Groceries
96
Beaumont
101
Bethlehem
Utilities
102
Beaumont
102
Bethlehem
Transportation
93
Beaumont
103
Bethlehem
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
83
Bethlehem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $93,269 in Bethlehem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Bethlehem equals $60,309 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Bethlehem

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Bethlehem's 110, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $258,000. The $92,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,250/mo in Bethlehem, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 101 in Bethlehem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $480/month in Bethlehem. 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 Beaumont and 102 in Bethlehem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $408 in Bethlehem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 83 in Bethlehem. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $62,600 in Bethlehem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $64,536 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,461/month in Bethlehem. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 19.6% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 97.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,269 in Bethlehem, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Bethlehem's is 110 with median homes at $258,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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