City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 1.8% higher than in Raleigh, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Raleigh, NC would need about $101,800 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $411 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Allentown, PA to Raleigh, NC ($125,431 → $111,147), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −9.8% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,188 in Raleigh | $101,845 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$411/yr.
74 Strong offer
Raleigh, NC → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$411/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Allentown → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $64,453 | −9.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $77,983 | −9.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $93,468 | −9.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $111,147 | −9.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $131,342 | −9.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $60,170 | $61,280 (−22.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $132,770 | $135,220 (+10.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $81,950 | $83,462 (+6.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $84,830 | $86,395 (−14.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.