City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Columbus, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 12.0% higher than in Columbus, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbus, GA would need about $112,000 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $939 in Columbus, GA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 15% in Columbus, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Allentown, PA to Columbus, GA ($125,431 → $112,556), while prices change by −10.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Columbus, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 89.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,325 in Columbus | $111,951 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $939/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $43,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Columbus, GA-AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 61.2 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 89.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Columbus, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
100 Strong offer
Columbus, GA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.7%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Columbus, GA is in Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Columbus, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Columbus, GA | Real change, Allentown → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $65,271 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $78,972 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $94,654 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $112,556 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $133,007 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Columbus, GA | Columbus pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,360 | $68,693 (−13.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $116,150 | $130,031 (+5.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $73,640 | $82,441 (+5.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $82,500 | $92,360 (−9.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.