City comparison
Albany, NY vs Allentown, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Albany, NY (99.6) and Allentown, PA (100.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Albany, NY goes as far as $100,400 in Allentown, PA.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,790 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.2% moving from Albany, NY to Allentown, PA ($109,810 → $125,431), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.8% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Allentown, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 100.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,404 in Allentown | $99,598 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,341/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 21% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $48,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Allentown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 105.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 100.6 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 107.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 100.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,790/yr.
67 Fair offer
Allentown, PA → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,790/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Allentown, PA is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Allentown, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Allentown, PA | Real change, Albany → Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $72,737 | +13.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $88,005 | +13.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $105,481 | +13.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $125,431 | +13.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $148,222 | +13.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Allentown, PA | Allentown pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $79,040 | $78,722 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $122,930 | $122,436 (−4.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $78,430 | $78,115 (−7.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $101,440 | $101,032 (+1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.