City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 8.0% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $108,000 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $693 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.8% moving from Allentown, PA to Kansas City, MO ($125,431 → $108,173), while prices change by −7.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.8% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,573 in Kansas City | $108,023 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$693/yr.
94 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$693/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Allentown → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,729 | −6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $75,897 | −6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $90,968 | −6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $108,173 | −6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $127,829 | −6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $61,060 | $65,959 (−16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $124,990 | $135,018 (+9.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $80,040 | $86,462 (+10.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $83,040 | $89,703 (−11.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.