City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Harrisburg, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 1.3% higher than in Harrisburg, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Harrisburg, PA would need about $101,300 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 $1,212 in Harrisburg, PA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 19% in Harrisburg, PA.
- Both are in PA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.4% moving from Allentown, PA to Harrisburg, PA ($125,431 → $108,592), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −12.3% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Harrisburg, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 98.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,682 in Harrisburg | $101,336 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,212/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $49,610 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 96.3 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 108.1 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 98.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Harrisburg, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
Harrisburg, PA → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Harrisburg, PA is in Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Harrisburg, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Harrisburg, PA | Real change, Allentown → Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,972 | −12.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $76,190 | −12.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $91,320 | −12.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $108,592 | −12.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $128,323 | −12.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Harrisburg, PA | Harrisburg pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $77,160 | $78,191 (−1.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $109,470 | $110,933 (−9.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,510 | $77,532 (−1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $96,770 | $98,063 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.