City comparison
Allentown, PA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 4.1% higher than in York, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in York, PA would need about $104,100 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 $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Allentown, PA and 17% in York, 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 −2.9% moving from Allentown, PA to York, PA ($125,431 → $121,785), while prices change by −4.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.1% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,031 in York | $104,133 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,060/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 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → York, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
82 Strong offer
York, PA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | York, PA | Real change, Allentown → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $70,623 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $85,447 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $102,415 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $121,785 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $143,913 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | York, PA | York pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $79,730 | $83,026 (+5.0%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $114,600 | $119,337 (−2.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $75,160 | $78,267 (−0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $96,210 | $100,187 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.