Bethlehem vs Franklin
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bethlehem
Franklin
The Verdict
Bethlehem is 30.2% less expensive than Franklin overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bethlehem would need approximately $107,474 in Franklin to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bethlehem has the same purchasing power as $107,474 in Franklin.
Conversely, $75,000 in Franklin equals $52,338 in Bethlehem.
Living in Bethlehem vs Franklin
Housing Costs
Bethlehem's housing index of 110 is lower Franklin's 230, translating to median home prices of $258,000 vs $750,000. The $492,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,980 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Bethlehem compared to $1,850/mo in Franklin, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Bethlehem and 100 in Franklin. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Bethlehem vs $475/month in Franklin. 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 Bethlehem and 97 in Franklin. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Bethlehem vs $388 in Franklin. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 83 in Bethlehem and 91 in Franklin. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,600 in Bethlehem and $118,200 in Franklin. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,536 and $85,036 respectively. Franklin residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Bethlehem vs $2,758/month in Franklin. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Franklin, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 120 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases