City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Baltimore, MD
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $104,500 in Baltimore, MD to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,511 a month in Baltimore, MD versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Baltimore, MD and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,316 a year higher in Baltimore, MD than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Baltimore, MD ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.1% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Baltimore, MD: price level 104.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Baltimore, MD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 104.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,520 in Baltimore | $95,675 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,511/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,794 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,386 (MD) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $59,070 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Baltimore |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 118.2 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 102.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 110.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 101.5 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 104.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Baltimore, MD
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,316/yr.
55 Fair offer
Baltimore, MD → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,316/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Baltimore, MD is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Baltimore, MD at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Baltimore, MD | Real change, Allentown → Baltimore |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | −7.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | −7.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | −7.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | −7.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | −7.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $76,400 | $73,096 (−7.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $138,900 | $132,893 (+8.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $85,160 | $81,477 (+3.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $99,550 | $95,245 (−6.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.