City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $108,900 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,462 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Washington, DC ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by +8.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.9% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,919 in Washington | $91,811 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.2%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,462/yr.
31 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$2,462/yr.
97 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Washington, DC | Real change, Allentown → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | −10.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | −10.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | −10.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | −10.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | −10.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $79,470 | $72,963 (−7.7%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $154,930 | $142,244 (+15.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $102,140 | $93,776 (+19.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $102,710 | $94,300 (−7.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.