City comparison
Akron, OH vs Augusta, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 1.6% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $101,600 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,600 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Augusta, GA ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Augusta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 91.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,429 in Augusta | $101,596 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,114/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $45,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Augusta |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 70.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.5 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 91.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,600/yr.
74 Strong offer
Augusta, GA → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,600/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Augusta, GA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Augusta, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Augusta, GA | Real change, Akron → Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Augusta, GA | Augusta pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $63,000 | $64,006 (−18.5%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $119,780 | $121,692 (+15.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $76,710 | $77,934 (−0.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $87,760 | $89,161 (+10.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.