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Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Cost of living in Lehigh County, PA

Part of the Allentown Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,247/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 375,408 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,213 37%
Federal tax $525 16%
Healthcare $480 15%
Groceries $341 11%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $205 6%
State tax $108 3%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Lehigh County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,033
per month
1 bedroom
$1,213
per month
2 bedroom
$1,507
per month
3 bedroom
$1,924
per month
4 bedroom
$2,005
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Lehigh County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$77,493
per year
Individual earnings
$42,169
per year
Per capita
$41,804
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Lehigh County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$276,100
Annual property tax
$4,591

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Lehigh County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$143
per month · 17.9¢/kWh
Natural gas
$62
per month
Annual total
$2,460
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Lehigh County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Lehigh County

State and local tax rates for Pennsylvania.

State income tax
3.1%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Lehigh County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
25.1 min
Drive alone
75.1%
Public transit
1.5%
Work from home
12.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Lehigh County

What it costs to live in Lehigh County each month.

Single person
$3,247
per month
  • Rent $1,213
  • Energy $205
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $525
  • State tax $108
Couple
$4,803
per month
  • Rent $1,507
  • Energy $246
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $938
  • State tax $198
Family
$7,370
per month
  • Rent $1,924
  • Energy $308
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $938
  • State tax $198

Frequently asked questions about Lehigh County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Lehigh County?

In Lehigh County, PA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,213 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,507 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,924 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Lehigh County?

In Lehigh County, PA, the average household income is $77,493 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,169 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Lehigh County?

The estimated cost of living in Lehigh County, PA is approximately $3,247 per month for a single person, $4,803 for a couple, $7,370 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Lehigh County?

The combined sales tax rate in Lehigh County, PA is 6.34%, which includes the Pennsylvania state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.34%.

Is Lehigh County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Lehigh County, PA would need approximately $3,247 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $77,493 per year ($6,458 per month). Lehigh County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Lehigh County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Lehigh County, PA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Lehigh County?

The average home value in Lehigh County, PA is $276,100, with average annual property taxes of $4,591, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Lehigh County compare to other areas?

You can compare Lehigh County, PA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Lehigh County is in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area.

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Browse the full list of counties in Pennsylvania, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Pennsylvania

Compare Lehigh County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources