City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Ogden, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Ogden, UT (100.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $100,400 in Ogden, UT.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,281 in Ogden, UT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $464 a year higher in Ogden, UT than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Ogden, UT ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −15.5% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Ogden, UT: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Ogden, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,381 in Ogden | $99,620 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,281/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $48,900 |
| 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 Ogden, UT MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Ogden, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Ogden |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 117.9 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 78.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Ogden, UT
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$464/yr.
68 Fair offer
Ogden, UT → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$464/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Ogden, UT is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Ogden, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Ogden, UT | Real change, Allentown → Ogden |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −15.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −15.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −15.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −15.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −15.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Ogden, UT | Ogden pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $63,910 | $63,667 (−19.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $109,880 | $109,463 (−11.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $82,010 | $81,699 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $81,840 | $81,529 (−19.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.