City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than in Allentown, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Allentown, PA would need about $101,800 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,402 in Providence, RI.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $3,148 in RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.9% moving from Allentown, PA to Providence, RI ($125,431 → $120,548), while prices change by +1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.6% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,806 in Providence | $98,226 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$78/yr.
63 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$78/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Providence, RI | Real change, Allentown → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,905 | −5.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $84,579 | −5.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $101,375 | −5.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $120,548 | −5.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $142,452 | −5.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $86,720 | $85,182 (+7.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $130,690 | $128,372 (+4.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $95,020 | $93,335 (+19.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $99,880 | $98,109 (−3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.