City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Colorado Springs, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Colorado Springs, CO (100.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $100,700 in Colorado Springs, CO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,464 a month in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Colorado Springs, CO and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $622 a year higher in Colorado Springs, CO than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Colorado Springs, CO ($125,431 → $109,246), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −13.5% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Colorado Springs, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,739 in Colorado Springs | $99,266 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,464/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $52,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Colorado Springs, CO |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Colorado Springs, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 116.2 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 83.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Colorado Springs, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$622/yr.
66 Fair offer
Colorado Springs, CO → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$622/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Colorado Springs, CO is in Colorado Springs, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Colorado Springs, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Colorado Springs, CO | Real change, Allentown → Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $63,351 | −13.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $76,650 | −13.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $91,870 | −13.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $109,246 | −13.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $129,096 | −13.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,140 | $60,691 (−23.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $134,280 | $133,295 (+8.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $85,000 | $84,376 (+7.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $96,140 | $95,435 (−5.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.