City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Boise City, ID
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 1.6% higher than in Boise City, ID. Someone earning $100,000 in Boise City, ID would need about $101,600 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,381 in Boise City, ID.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,122 a year higher in Boise City, ID than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Boise City, ID ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −13.8% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Boise City, ID | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 98.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,422 in Boise City | $101,603 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,381/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,988 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,192 (ID) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $49,100 |
| 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 Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Boise City, ID.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Boise City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 105.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 70.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 98.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Boise City, ID
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,122/yr.
74 Strong offer
Boise City, ID → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,122/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Boise City, ID is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Boise City, ID at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Boise City, ID | Real change, Allentown → Boise City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −13.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −13.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −13.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −13.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −13.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Boise City, ID | Boise City pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,230 | $62,211 (−21.3%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $131,590 | $133,699 (+8.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,700 | $77,929 (−0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $97,880 | $99,449 (−2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.