City comparison
Albany, NY vs Columbia, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 6.3% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $106,300 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,164 in Columbia, SC. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 19% in Columbia, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Columbia, SC ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.0% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 93.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,070 in Columbia | $106,304 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,164/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $46,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Columbia, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 79.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 93.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Columbia, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$17/yr.
88 Strong offer
Columbia, SC → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$17/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Columbia, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Columbia, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Columbia, SC | Real change, Albany → Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Columbia, SC | Columbia pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $60,050 | $63,835 (−19.4%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $123,380 | $131,157 (+2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $69,210 | $73,573 (−13.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $81,920 | $87,084 (−12.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.