City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Allentown, PA (100.0) and Visalia, CA (99.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Allentown, PA goes as far as $99,900 in Visalia, CA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,000 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −14.7% moving from Allentown, PA to Visalia, CA ($125,431 → $106,973), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −14.6% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,857 in Visalia | $100,143 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,000/yr.
69 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Allentown, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$2,000/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Allentown → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $62,033 | −14.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $75,055 | −14.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $89,959 | −14.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $106,973 | −14.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $126,410 | −14.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $98,430 | $98,571 (+24.7%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $126,170 | $126,351 (+2.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $79,400 | $79,514 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $125,180 | $125,359 (+23.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.