City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Philadelphia, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $102,600 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- Both are in PA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.5% moving from Allentown, PA to Philadelphia, PA ($125,431 → $117,284), while prices change by +2.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.9% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 102.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,587 in Philadelphia | $97,478 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,520/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $54,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 113.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 114.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 103.1 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 102.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
61 Fair offer
Philadelphia, PA → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
77 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Philadelphia, PA is in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Philadelphia, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Real change, Allentown → Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $68,013 | −8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $82,289 | −8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $98,630 | −8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $117,284 | −8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $138,595 | −8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $78,570 | $76,589 (−3.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $133,040 | $129,685 (+5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $85,990 | $83,822 (+6.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $101,180 | $98,629 (−2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.