City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Boston, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $108,300 in Boston, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,476 a month in Boston, MA versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in Boston, MA and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,710 a year higher in Boston, MA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Boston, MA ($125,431 → $120,548), while prices change by +8.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −11.3% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Boston, MA: price level 108.3 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 108.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,301 in Boston | $92,336 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $2,476/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $66,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 148.4 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 103.6 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 108.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Boston, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.7%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$1,710/yr.
22 Weak offer
Boston, MA → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,710/yr.
95 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Boston, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Boston, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Boston, MA | Real change, Allentown → Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,905 | −11.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $84,579 | −11.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $101,375 | −11.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $120,548 | −11.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $142,452 | −11.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Boston, MA | Boston pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $98,060 | $90,544 (+14.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $166,090 | $153,360 (+24.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $100,150 | $92,474 (+17.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $106,180 | $98,042 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.