Moving from Allentown, PA-NJ to New York, NY-NJ
About 3,983 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020), and 12,284 go the other way. Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in New York, NY-NJ.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 20.2% of income in Allentown, PA-NJ and 25.3% in New York, NY-NJ.
Allentown, PA-NJ New York, NY-NJ (monthly)
| Monthly | Allentown, PA-NJ | New York, NY-NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,177 | $1,477 | +$300 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $179 | $265 | +$86 |
| Unemployment Compensation (UC) – employee2026 tax law | $4 | $0 | −$4 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $0 | $3 | +$3 |
| Paid Family Leave (PFL)2026 tax law | $0 | $25 | +$25 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of New York City. | $0 | $190 | +$190 |
| Take-home pay | $4,656 | $4,357 | −$300 |
| Housing | $1,519 | $2,729 | +$1,210 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,519 | $2,729 | +$1,210 |
| Food | $443 | $486 | +$43 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 110.3 | $443 | $486 | +$43 |
| Transportation | $175 | $175 | +$1 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.38/gal (NY weekly average) | $175 | $175 | +$1 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $22 | −$8 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $30 | $22 | −$8 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $1,080 | +$89 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 110.3 | $503 | $551 | +$48 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 105.8 | $489 | $529 | +$40 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $1,498 | −$136 | −$1,634 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 15.5% of income in Allentown, PA-NJ and 20.3% in New York, NY-NJ.
Allentown, PA-NJ New York, NY-NJ (monthly)
| Monthly | Allentown, PA-NJ | New York, NY-NJ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,549 | $2,032 | +$483 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $307 | $438 | +$131 |
| Unemployment Compensation (UC) – employee2026 tax law | $7 | $0 | −$7 |
| State Disability Insurance (SDI)2026 tax law | $0 | $5 | +$5 |
| Paid Family Leave (PFL)2026 tax law | $0 | $43 | +$43 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of New York City. | $0 | $311 | +$311 |
| Take-home pay | $8,451 | $7,968 | −$483 |
| Housing | $1,839 | $2,971 | +$1,132 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,839 | $2,971 | +$1,132 |
| Childcare | $1,907 | $2,564 | +$657 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2020 / DOL NDCP 2022 · preschool $259/wk, school-age $225/wk (2022 prices, Kings County, NY); × 1.2224 BLS CPI day care, 2022 to 2026-08 | $1,907 | $2,564 | +$657 |
| Food | $1,290 | $1,414 | +$124 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 110.3 | $1,290 | $1,414 | +$124 |
| Transportation | $349 | $350 | +$1 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.38/gal (NY weekly average) | $349 | $350 | +$1 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $22 | −$8 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 4% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $30 | $22 | −$8 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $1,080 | +$89 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 110.3 | $503 | $551 | +$48 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 105.8 | $489 | $529 | +$40 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $2,044 | −$434 | −$2,478 |
Allentown, PA-NJ vs New York, NY-NJ at a glance
| Measure | Allentown, PA-NJ | New York, NY-NJ |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 100.0 | 112.6 |
| Housing price level | 105.5 | 148.6 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,519 | $2,729 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,839 | $2,971 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $2,306 | $3,760 |
| Median home value | $300,800 | $614,200 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 1.62% | 0.71% (Kings County, NY; metro median top-coded) |
| Median household income | $84,587 | $99,155 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $190 (2020 price) | $300 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | None in our data | New York City |
| State sales tax | 6% | 4% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.36 | $4.38 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $162 | $155 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in New York, NY-NJ to keep my Allentown, PA-NJ lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in Allentown, PA-NJ, about $102,395 in New York, NY-NJ (+46.3%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $167,267. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is New York, NY-NJ cheaper than Allentown, PA-NJ?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, New York, NY-NJ is at 112.6 and Allentown, PA-NJ at 100.0 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have −$1,634 a month in New York, NY-NJ.
How many people move from Allentown, PA-NJ to New York, NY-NJ?+
About 3,983 people a year (±785), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020); about 12,284 move the other way.
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.