City comparison
Akron, OH vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 2.8% higher than in Akron, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Akron, OH would need about $102,800 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,060 a month in York, PA versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in York, PA and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,102 a year higher in York, PA than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.6% moving from Akron, OH to York, PA ($111,138 → $121,785), while prices change by +2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.6% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,817 in York | $97,260 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Akron, OH and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → York, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,102/yr.
60 Fair offer
York, PA → Akron, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,102/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | York, PA | Real change, Akron → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $70,623 | +6.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $85,447 | +6.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $102,415 | +6.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $121,785 | +6.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $143,913 | +6.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | York, PA | York pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $79,730 | $77,546 (−1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $114,600 | $111,460 (+5.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,160 | $73,101 (−6.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $96,210 | $93,574 (+15.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.