City Comparison

Bethlehem vs Springdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Bethlehem

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

Springdale

Arkansas
87
Below Average
$299,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$62,100
Median Income

The Verdict

11.5%

Springdale is 11.5% less expensive than Bethlehem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bethlehem would need approximately $67,268 in Springdale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
110
Bethlehem
86
Springdale
Groceries
101
Bethlehem
97
Springdale
Utilities
102
Bethlehem
93
Springdale
Transportation
103
Bethlehem
91
Springdale
Healthcare
83
Bethlehem
82
Springdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Bethlehem has the same purchasing power as $67,268 in Springdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springdale equals $83,621 in Bethlehem.

Living in Bethlehem vs Springdale

Housing Costs

Bethlehem's housing index of 110 is higher Springdale's 86, translating to median home prices of $258,000 vs $299,000. The $41,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,664 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Bethlehem compared to $1,000/mo in Springdale, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Bethlehem and 97 in Springdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Bethlehem vs $461/month in Springdale. 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 93 in Springdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Bethlehem vs $372 in Springdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 83 in Bethlehem and 82 in Springdale. 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 $62,100 in Springdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,536 and $71,379 respectively. Springdale 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 $1,449/month in Springdale. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Springdale, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springdale is 11.5% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 97.
A $75,000 salary in Bethlehem has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,268 in Springdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Bethlehem's housing index is 110 with median homes at $258,000, while Springdale's is 86 with median homes at $299,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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