Cost of Living: Bethlehem, PA vs El Cajon, CA

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,337/mo in Bethlehem, PA versus $3,974/mo in El Cajon, CA. In the model, rent is about 19.1% of gross in Bethlehem, PA versus 26.09% in El Cajon, CA, so Bethlehem, PA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Bethlehem, PA
$4,337/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in El Cajon, CA
$3,974/mo
Income level: near
Rent share (1BR) in Bethlehem, PA
19.1%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in El Cajon, CA
26.09%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Bethlehem, PA and El Cajon, CA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): El Cajon, CA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Bethlehem, PA
  • Lower home prices: Bethlehem, PA
  • Higher median household income: El Cajon, CA

Cost of Living Index

Bethlehem, PA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · El Cajon, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)

Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).

Median Rent

Bethlehem, PA: $1,246/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · El Cajon, CA: $1,701/mo

Median rent in El Cajon, CA is $455/mo higher than in Bethlehem, PA.

Median Home Price

Bethlehem, PA: $236,500 · El Cajon, CA: $632,800

Median home price in El Cajon, CA is $396,300 higher than in Bethlehem, PA.

Median Household Income

Bethlehem, PA: $66,443 · El Cajon, CA: $66,478

El Cajon, CA has a higher median household income than Bethlehem, PA by $35.

Bethlehem, PA overview · El Cajon, CA overview · Popular comparisons