City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Baton Rouge, LA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Augusta, GA are 1.2% higher than in Baton Rouge, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Baton Rouge, LA would need about $101,200 in Augusta, GA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,064 in Baton Rouge, LA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,953 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Baton Rouge, LA.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Augusta, GA to Baton Rouge, LA changes real buying power by +1.2%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Baton Rouge, LA: price level 90.8 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Baton Rouge, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 90.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,778 in Baton Rouge | $101,237 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,064/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $76,566 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $2,614 (LA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $48,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Baton Rouge, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Baton Rouge, LA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Baton Rouge |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 74.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.7 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 90.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Baton Rouge, LA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,953/yr.
73 Strong offer
Baton Rouge, LA → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,953/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Baton Rouge, LA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Baton Rouge, LA | Real change, Augusta → Baton Rouge |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $59,310 | $60,044 (−4.7%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $101,900 | $103,161 (−13.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $73,070 | $73,974 (−3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $81,130 | $82,134 (−6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.