City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Savannah, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 5.0% higher than in Savannah, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Savannah, GA would need about $105,000 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,533 a month in Savannah, GA versus $1,341 in Allentown, PA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Savannah, GA and 21% in Allentown, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Savannah, GA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −15.1% moving from Allentown, PA to Savannah, GA ($125,431 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.9% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Savannah, GA: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Savannah, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,236 in Savannah | $105,002 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,533/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $47,240 |
| 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 Savannah, GA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Savannah, GA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Savannah |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Savannah, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
84 Strong offer
Savannah, GA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Savannah, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Savannah, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Savannah, GA | Real change, Allentown → Savannah |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $61,722 | −10.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $74,678 | −10.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,508 | −10.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,437 | −10.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $125,776 | −10.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Savannah, GA | Savannah pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $63,710 | $66,897 (−15.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $123,220 | $129,383 (+5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $79,790 | $83,781 (+6.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $86,760 | $91,100 (−10.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.