City comparison
Salem, OR vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 18.6% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $118,600 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,953 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Youngstown, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Salem, OR to Youngstown, OH ($114,684 → $111,138), while prices change by −15.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.9% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Salem, OR | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $84,317 in Youngstown | $118,600 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $771/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Youngstown, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.6%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$5,953/yr.
100 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.7%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$5,953/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Salem → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $64,448 | +14.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $77,977 | +14.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $93,461 | +14.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $111,138 | +14.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $131,331 | +14.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $72,560 | $86,056 (+15.0%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $107,990 | $128,076 (−2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $73,080 | $86,673 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $78,680 | $93,314 (−29.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.