Chicago, IL → Allentown, PA
Moving to Allentown costs you $152 a month
−$1,824 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.
| Per month | Chicago | Allentown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,520 | −$688 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,837 | −$293 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,683 | −$395 |
| Rent | $1,828 | $1,441 | −$387 |
| Getting around | $392 | $559 | +$167 |
| Groceries | $408 | $401 | −$7 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $451 | −$8 |
| Utilities | $255 | $251 | −$4 |
| Everything else | $357 | $351 | −$6 |
| Left over | $2,380 | $2,228 | −$152 |
To break even in Allentown, you'd need to earn
$93,000
Household gross, versus $98,500 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Chicago does now.
The tax difference alone
+$1,065
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 24.4% in Allentown.
More about Allentown
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Allentown, PA in full
A flat 3.07% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,716 and 188 sunny days; commutes average 28 minutes.
The reverse move
Same two cities, but starting from Allentown on Allentown wages.
Allentown → Chicago →Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. An estimate, not a quote or tax advice. How this is calculated.