City comparison
Allentown, PA vs South Bend, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 7.7% higher than in South Bend, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in South Bend, IN would need about $107,700 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 $1,105 in South Bend, IN. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 17% in South Bend, IN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $2,921 in IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to South Bend, IN ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −8.6% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- South Bend, IN: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,888 in South Bend | $107,657 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,105/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $46,540 |
| 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 74.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.2 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → South Bend, IN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$150/yr.
93 Strong offer
South Bend, IN → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$150/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; South Bend, IN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to South Bend, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | South Bend, IN | Real change, Allentown → South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | South Bend, IN | South Bend pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $58,180 | $62,635 (−20.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $95,500 | $102,812 (−16.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $77,940 | $83,908 (+7.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $93,540 | $100,702 (−0.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.