City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Dayton, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 7.8% higher than in Dayton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Dayton, OH would need about $107,800 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 $1,009 in Dayton, OH. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 16% in Dayton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,102 a year higher in Allentown, PA than in Dayton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.0% moving from Allentown, PA to Dayton, OH ($125,431 → $110,401), while prices change by −7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.1% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Dayton, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,724 in Dayton | $107,847 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,009/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $49,980 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 72.7 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 95.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Dayton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,102/yr.
93 Strong offer
Dayton, OH → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$1,102/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Dayton, OH is in Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Dayton, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Dayton, OH | Real change, Allentown → Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $64,021 | −5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $77,460 | −5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $92,841 | −5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $110,401 | −5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $130,461 | −5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Dayton, OH | Dayton pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $80,360 | $86,666 (+9.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $106,910 | $115,300 (−6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $79,030 | $85,232 (+8.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $82,510 | $88,985 (−12.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.