City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Miami, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Miami, FL are 14.2% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $114,200 in Miami, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,995 a month in Miami, FL versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 30% of take-home pay in Miami, FL and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,070 a year higher in Allentown, PA than in Miami, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.6% moving from Allentown, PA to Miami, FL ($125,431 → $113,356), while prices change by +14.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −20.9% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Miami, FL: price level 114.2 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Miami, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 114.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $114,192 in Miami | $87,572 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,995/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 30% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $48,640 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 155.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 103.6 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 97.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 109.1 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 114.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Miami, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.4%; rent takes 30% of take-home; state tax −$3,070/yr.
30 Weak offer
Miami, FL → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.2%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$3,070/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Miami, FL is in Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Miami, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Miami, FL | Real change, Allentown → Miami |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $65,735 | −20.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $79,533 | −20.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $95,326 | −20.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $113,356 | −20.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $133,953 | −20.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Miami, FL | Miami pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $58,300 | $51,055 (−35.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $132,650 | $116,164 (−5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $80,920 | $70,863 (−9.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $91,380 | $80,023 (−21.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.