City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Ann Arbor, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Ann Arbor, MI (100.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $100,900 in Ann Arbor, MI.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,387 in Ann Arbor, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $929 a year higher in Ann Arbor, MI than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.4% moving from Allentown, PA to Ann Arbor, MI ($125,431 → $117,402), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.2% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Ann Arbor, MI: price level 100.9 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Ann Arbor, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,912 in Ann Arbor | $99,096 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,387/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $55,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Ann Arbor, MI MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Ann Arbor, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Ann Arbor |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 125.3 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 98.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Ann Arbor, MI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$929/yr.
66 Fair offer
Ann Arbor, MI → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$929/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Ann Arbor, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Ann Arbor, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Ann Arbor, MI | Real change, Allentown → Ann Arbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $68,081 | −7.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $82,372 | −7.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $98,729 | −7.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $117,402 | −7.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $138,734 | −7.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Ann Arbor, MI | Ann Arbor pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $64,060 | $63,481 (−19.7%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $126,830 | $125,683 (+2.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $80,040 | $79,316 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $103,450 | $102,515 (+1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.