City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 15.6% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $115,600 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 $818 in Kingsport, TN. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 12% in Kingsport, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,070 a year higher in Allentown, PA than in Kingsport, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Kingsport, TN ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −13.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $86,475 in Kingsport | $115,641 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.6%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$3,070/yr.
100 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.5%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$3,070/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Kingsport, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Allentown → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $58,130 | $67,222 (−15.0%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $115,310 | $133,345 (+8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $75,940 | $87,818 (+12.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $76,730 | $88,731 (−12.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.