City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 3.2% higher than in Tucson, AZ. Someone earning $100,000 in Tucson, AZ would need about $103,200 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 $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $779 a year higher in Allentown, PA than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.5% moving from Allentown, PA to Tucson, AZ ($125,431 → $108,455), while prices change by −3.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.8% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,927 in Tucson | $103,170 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Tucson, AZ
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$779/yr.
79 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$779/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Allentown → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,893 | −10.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $76,095 | −10.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $91,205 | −10.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $108,455 | −10.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $128,162 | −10.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $47,220 | $48,717 (−38.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $123,710 | $127,632 (+3.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,320 | $78,740 (+0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $94,110 | $97,094 (−4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.