City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Fresno, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $102,200 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,355 in Fresno, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,000 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −14.7% moving from Allentown, PA to Fresno, CA ($125,431 → $106,973), while prices change by +2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −16.5% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Fresno, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 102.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,191 in Fresno | $97,856 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,355/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $46,910 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Fresno, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Fresno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 95.7 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 161.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 102.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,000/yr.
62 Fair offer
Fresno, CA → Allentown, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$2,000/yr.
76 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Fresno, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Fresno, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Fresno, CA | Real change, Allentown → Fresno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,033 | −16.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $75,055 | −16.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,959 | −16.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,973 | −16.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $126,410 | −16.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Fresno, CA | Fresno pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $78,800 | $77,111 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $129,060 | $126,293 (+2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $78,690 | $77,003 (−1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $125,420 | $122,731 (+21.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.