City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Mobile, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 13.5% higher than in Mobile, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Mobile, AL would need about $113,500 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 $919 in Mobile, AL. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 15% in Mobile, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,665 a year higher in Mobile, AL than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Mobile, AL ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.7% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Mobile, AL: price level 88.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Mobile, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 88.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,126 in Mobile | $113,474 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $919/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $47,000 |
| 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 Mobile, AL MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Mobile, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 60.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 84.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 88.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Mobile, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.5%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,665/yr.
100 Strong offer
Mobile, AL → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,665/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Mobile, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Mobile, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Mobile, AL | Real change, Allentown → Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −3.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −3.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −3.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −3.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −3.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Mobile, AL | Mobile pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $60,970 | $69,185 (−12.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $122,540 | $139,051 (+13.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $72,130 | $81,849 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $79,490 | $90,200 (−11.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.