City comparison
Tucson, AZ vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Tucson, AZ (96.9) and York, PA (96.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Tucson, AZ goes as far as $99,100 in York, PA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,081 a month in Tucson, AZ and $1,060 in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $779 a year higher in York, PA than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.3% moving from Tucson, AZ to York, PA ($108,455 → $121,785), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.3% in real buying power.
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Tucson, AZ | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,075 in York | $100,933 in Tucson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,081/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,889 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,291 (AZ) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,760 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Tucson-Nogales, AZ | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Tucson, AZ MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Tucson, AZ and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tucson | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 91.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tucson, AZ → York, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$779/yr.
72 Strong offer
York, PA → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$779/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tucson, AZ is in the Tucson-Nogales, AZ pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Tucson, AZ to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tucson, AZ | York, PA | Real change, Tucson → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,893 | $70,623 | +13.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,095 | $85,447 | +13.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,205 | $102,415 | +13.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,455 | $121,785 | +13.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,162 | $143,913 | +13.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tucson, AZ | York, PA | York pay in Tucson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,220 | $79,730 | $80,474 (+70.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,710 | $114,600 | $115,670 (−6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,320 | $75,160 | $75,861 (−0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $94,110 | $96,210 | $97,108 (+3.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.