City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Provo, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Harrisburg, PA (98.7) and Provo, UT (98.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Harrisburg, PA goes as far as $99,600 in Provo, UT.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,212 a month in Harrisburg, PA and $1,265 in Provo, UT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $464 a year higher in Provo, UT than in Harrisburg, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Provo, UT ($108,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
- Provo, UT: 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
| Harrisburg, PA | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,576 in Provo | $100,426 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,265/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $48,010 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT MSA. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Provo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 78.6 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Provo, UT
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$464/yr.
70 Strong offer
Provo, UT → Harrisburg, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$464/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Provo, UT is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Provo, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Provo, UT | Real change, Harrisburg → Provo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $61,722 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $74,678 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $89,508 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $106,437 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $125,776 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Provo, UT | Provo pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $62,930 | $63,198 (−18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $131,210 | $131,768 (+20.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $75,700 | $76,022 (−0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $81,780 | $82,128 (−15.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.