City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 5.6% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $105,600 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 $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 17% in Pittsburgh, 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 −12.3% moving from Allentown, PA to Pittsburgh, PA ($125,431 → $110,047), while prices change by −5.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.4% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,701 in Pittsburgh | $105,595 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,077/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% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
86 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Allentown → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $63,815 | −7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $77,211 | −7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $92,543 | −7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $110,047 | −7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $130,042 | −7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $76,550 | $80,833 (+2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $124,500 | $131,466 (+6.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $76,940 | $81,245 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $82,370 | $86,979 (−14.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.