City comparison
Akron, OH vs South Bend, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Akron, OH (93.4) and South Bend, IN (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Akron, OH goes as far as $99,500 in South Bend, IN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,105 a month in South Bend, IN versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in South Bend, IN and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $953 a year higher in South Bend, IN than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to South Bend, IN ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.7% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- South Bend, IN: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,452 in South Bend | $100,551 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,105/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $46,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 74.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.2 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → South Bend, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$953/yr.
70 Strong offer
South Bend, IN → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$953/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; South Bend, IN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to South Bend, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | South Bend, IN | Real change, Akron → South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −3.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −3.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −3.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −3.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −3.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | South Bend, IN | South Bend pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $58,180 | $58,501 (−25.5%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $95,500 | $96,027 (−8.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $77,940 | $78,370 (−0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $93,540 | $94,056 (+16.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.