City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 2.8% higher than in Madison, WI. Someone earning $100,000 in Madison, WI would need about $102,800 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,482 a month in Madison, WI versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $849 a year higher in Madison, WI than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Madison, WI ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −12.8% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,318 in Madison | $102,756 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $58,080 |
| 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 Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Madison, WI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$849/yr.
77 Strong offer
Madison, WI → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$849/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Madison, WI | Real change, Allentown → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −12.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −12.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −12.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −12.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −12.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $63,690 | $65,445 (−17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $130,630 | $134,230 (+9.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $81,130 | $83,366 (+6.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $101,190 | $103,979 (+2.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.