City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Spokane, WA (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 Spokane, WA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,070 a year higher in Allentown, PA than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −14.7% moving from Allentown, PA to Spokane, WA ($125,431 → $106,991), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −15.0% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Spokane, WA: 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 | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,378 in Spokane | $99,623 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Spokane, WA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,070/yr.
68 Fair offer
Spokane, WA → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$3,070/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Spokane, WA | Real change, Allentown → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,044 | −15.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $75,068 | −15.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,974 | −15.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,991 | −15.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $126,432 | −15.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $98,800 | $98,428 (+24.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $130,690 | $130,198 (+5.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $86,350 | $86,025 (+9.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $111,750 | $111,329 (+9.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.