City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Augusta, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 8.8% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $108,800 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Augusta, GA ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.7% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Augusta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 91.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,932 in Augusta | $108,776 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,114/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $45,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Augusta |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 70.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.5 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 91.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
96 Strong offer
Augusta, GA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.1%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Augusta, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Augusta, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Augusta, GA | Real change, Allentown → Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −7.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −7.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −7.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −7.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −7.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Augusta, GA | Augusta pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $63,000 | $68,529 (−13.3%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $119,780 | $130,291 (+6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,710 | $83,442 (+6.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $87,760 | $95,461 (−5.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.