Highland Falls, NY vs Macungie, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Macungie, PA has a modeled overall cost index 20.7% lower than Highland Falls, NY.

Highland Falls, NY · modeled 2BR rent: $2,200 / month
Macungie, PA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,300 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Highland Falls, NY and Macungie, PA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Highland Falls, NY

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,494/month in Macungie, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $132,074 in Macungie, PA

Regional cost estimates: Highland Falls, NY uses Jersey City, NJ. Macungie, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 20.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,494

Savings

Annual Impact

$17.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Highland Falls, NY

Population:4K

Cost Index:

109.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$411K

Macungie, PA

Population:3K

Cost Index:

87.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$434K

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Highland Falls, NY

The Empire State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Macungie, PA

The Keystone State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Highland Falls, NY vs Macungie, PA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Highland Falls, NY	Macungie, PA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,638/mo	$1,608/mo	↓ $1,030less	39.0%
Other	$1,598/mo	$1,371/mo	↓ $227less	14.2%
Transportation	$1,261/mo	$1,098/mo	↓ $163less	12.9%
Healthcare	$578/mo	$505/mo	↓ $73.00less	12.6%
Groceries	$925/mo	$919/mo	↓ $5.35less	0.6%
All Utilities	$501/mo	$505/mo	↑ $3.94more	0.8%

Housing

↓ 39.0%

Highland Falls, NY

$2,638

Macungie, PA

$1,608

Difference

$1,030

less

Other

↓ 14.2%

Highland Falls, NY

$1,598

Macungie, PA

$1,371

Difference

$227

less

Transportation

↓ 12.9%

Highland Falls, NY

$1,261

Macungie, PA

$1,098

Difference

$163

less

Healthcare

↓ 12.6%

Highland Falls, NY

$578

Macungie, PA

$505

Difference

$73.00

less

Groceries

↓ 0.6%

Highland Falls, NY

$925

Macungie, PA

$919

Difference

$5.35

less

All Utilities

↑ 0.8%

Highland Falls, NY

$501

Macungie, PA

$505

Difference

$3.94

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,520

To$1,590

↑ $70.00

1 Bed

From$1,720

To$1,890

↑ $170

2 Bed

From$2,200

To$2,300

↑ $100

3 Bed

From$2,790

To$2,940

↑ $150

Highland Falls, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,720–$1,720/mo

Macungie, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,890–$1,890/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Highland Falls, NY

$6,006

Monthly in Macungie, PA

$1,494

Difference

Home Values

Highland Falls

Macungie

$411K

Median Value

$434K

↑ +2.3%

YoY Change

↑ +3.1%

↑ +50%

5-Year Change

↑ +39.6%

Homes in Macungie are 5% more expensive than Highland Falls

Calculate payment - Highland Falls Calculate payment - Macungie

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $4.9K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$412

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.3%

Rate difference

Highland Falls, NY

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New York State Tax

Effective: 6.4%

$9.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.0%

$46.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,620/month

$103.4K

Macungie, PA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Pennsylvania State Tax

Effective: 3.1%

$4.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 27.7%

$41.6K

Take-Home Pay

$9,032/month

$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Highland Falls, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:1.2%

Macungie, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Highland Falls

Macungie

41 Good

Air Quality

52 Moderate

71.3%

Good Air Days

47.3%

97 High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

12 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

Before moving from Highland Falls, NY to Macungie, PA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Macungie, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Highland Falls, NY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Highland Falls to Macungie moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Macungie, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Highland Falls, NY vs Macungie, PA

How do the cost estimates for Highland Falls, NY and Macungie, PA compare?

Macungie, PA has a modeled overall cost index 20.7% lower than Highland Falls, NY. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Highland Falls, NY, the model estimates $132,074 in Macungie, PA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Highland Falls, NY and Macungie, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,200/month in Highland Falls, NY and $2,300/month in Macungie, PA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New York and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com