Median rent is 4% lower in Easton ($1,325/mo vs $1,382/mo). Buying is cheaper in Easton, where the median home runs $196,300 versus $260,400. Households earn more in Easton ($69,348 vs $68,879 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (98.9).
City A
Bethlehem, PA
City B
Easton, PA
How much would you need to earn in Easton, PA to maintain your standard of living from Bethlehem, PA?
Equivalent salary in Easton, PA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Bethlehem
Pennsylvania
Easton
Pennsylvania
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,382/mo in Bethlehem and $1,325/mo in Easton. Home buyers face a steeper market in Bethlehem: the median home is $260,400 versus $196,300 in Easton — 25% more expensive.
Metric
Bethlehem
Easton
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Bethlehem
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Easton
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Bethlehem is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.9 versus 98.9 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Bethlehem.
Median rent is $1,382/mo in Bethlehem, PA and $1,325/mo in Easton, PA. Easton, PA has the lower rent by about 4%.
Median household income is $68,879 in Bethlehem, PA and $69,348 in Easton, PA. Easton, PA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Bethlehem, PA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Easton, PA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
