Bethlehem, PA vs Lancaster, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 4.6% higher than Bethlehem, PA.

Bethlehem, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,705 / month
Lancaster, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bethlehem, PA and Lancaster, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Bethlehem, PA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $558/month in Lancaster, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,692 in Lancaster, PA

Regional cost estimates: Bethlehem, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Lancaster, PA uses Baltimore, MD. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 4.6%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$558

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$6.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bethlehem, PA

Population:78K

Cost Index:

94.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$282K

Lancaster, PA

Population:57K

Cost Index:

98.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$309K

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Bethlehem, PA

The Keystone State

78K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 78K residents.

Lancaster, PA

The Keystone State

57K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 57K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bethlehem, PA vs Lancaster, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Bethlehem, PA	Lancaster, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,032/mo	$2,736/mo	↑ $704more	34.6%
Other	$1,733/mo	$1,665/mo	↓ $68.00less	3.9%
Transportation	$1,387/mo	$1,345/mo	↓ $42.13less	3.0%
Healthcare	$615/mo	$596/mo	↓ $19.30less	3.1%
Groceries	$1,119/mo	$1,102/mo	↓ $16.05less	1.4%
All Utilities	$614/mo	$614/mo	↓ $0.48less	0.1%

Housing

↑ 34.6%

Bethlehem, PA

$2,032

Lancaster, PA

$2,736

Difference

$704

Other

↓ 3.9%

Bethlehem, PA

$1,733

Lancaster, PA

$1,665

Difference

$68.00

less

Transportation

↓ 3.0%

Bethlehem, PA

$1,387

Lancaster, PA

$1,345

Difference

$42.13

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.1%

Bethlehem, PA

$615

Lancaster, PA

$596

Difference

$19.30

less

Groceries

↓ 1.4%

Bethlehem, PA

$1,119

Lancaster, PA

$1,102

Difference

$16.05

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.1%

Bethlehem, PA

$614

Lancaster, PA

$614

Difference

$0.48

less

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

Bethlehem, PA: Bethlehem Earned Income Tax$4,125/yr (2.8%)

Lancaster, PA: Lancaster Earned Income Tax$4,380/yr (2.9%)

Net difference+$255/yr

Local taxes are shown separately and are not included in the living-cost totals. Coverage is incomplete; an absent entry does not establish that no tax applies.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,180

To$1,160

↓ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,400

To$1,290

↓ $110

2 Bed

From$1,705

To$1,610

↓ $95.00

3 Bed

From$2,180

To$2,090

↓ $90.00

Bethlehem, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,360–$1,440/mo

Lancaster, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Bethlehem, PA

$8,058

Monthly in Lancaster, PA

$558

Difference

Home Values

Bethlehem

Lancaster

$282K

Median Value

$309K

↑ +3.5%

YoY Change

↑ +3.7%

↑ +43.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.3%

$278K - $286K

Price Range

$309K

Homes in Lancaster are 10% more expensive than Bethlehem

Calculate payment - Bethlehem Calculate payment - Lancaster

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Bethlehem, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Lancaster, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Bethlehem, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

Lancaster, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bethlehem

Lancaster

52 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

47.3%

Good Air Days

65.6%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.0°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

30 days

Before moving from Bethlehem, PA to Lancaster, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Lancaster, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bethlehem, PA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bethlehem to Lancaster moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Lancaster, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bethlehem, PA vs Lancaster, PA

How do the cost estimates for Bethlehem, PA and Lancaster, PA compare?

Lancaster, PA has a modeled overall cost index 4.6% higher than Bethlehem, PA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bethlehem, PA, the model estimates $156,692 in Lancaster, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bethlehem, PA and Lancaster, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,705/month in Bethlehem, PA and $1,610/month in Lancaster, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.