City comparison
Salem, OR vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 8.0% higher than in York, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in York, PA would need about $108,000 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 17% in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,850 a year higher in Salem, OR than in York, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.2% moving from Salem, OR to York, PA ($114,684 → $121,785), while prices change by −7.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.7% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Salem, OR | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,620 in York | $107,968 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Salem, OR and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → York, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,850/yr.
94 Strong offer
York, PA → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,850/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | York, PA | Real change, Salem → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $70,623 | +14.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $85,447 | +14.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $102,415 | +14.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $121,785 | +14.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $143,913 | +14.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | York, PA | York pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $79,730 | $86,083 (+15.1%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $114,600 | $123,731 (−6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $75,160 | $81,149 (−7.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $96,210 | $103,876 (−21.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.