City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Atlanta, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Atlanta, GA (100.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $100,100 in Atlanta, GA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,660 a month in Atlanta, GA versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Atlanta, GA and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Atlanta, GA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Allentown, PA to Atlanta, GA ($125,431 → $112,556), while prices change by +0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.3% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Atlanta, GA: price level 100.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,090 in Atlanta | $99,910 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,660/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $51,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 111.0 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 100.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 96.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Atlanta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
66 Fair offer
Atlanta, GA → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Atlanta, GA is in Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Atlanta, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Atlanta, GA | Real change, Allentown → Atlanta |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $65,271 | −10.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $78,972 | −10.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $94,654 | −10.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $112,556 | −10.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $133,007 | −10.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Atlanta, GA | Atlanta pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $76,570 | $76,501 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $132,960 | $132,840 (+8.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $85,820 | $85,743 (+9.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $100,490 | $100,400 (−1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.