City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 4.6% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $104,600 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $929 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Grand Rapids, MI ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −11.2% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,577 in Grand Rapids | $104,628 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $47,570 |
| 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$929/yr.
83 Strong offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$929/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Grand Rapids, MI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Allentown → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −11.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −11.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −11.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −11.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −11.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,900 | $64,765 (−18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $107,520 | $112,496 (−8.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,270 | $79,800 (+1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $83,920 | $87,804 (−13.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.