City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Boston, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boston, MA are 17.8% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $117,800 in Boston, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,476 a month in Boston, MA versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in Boston, MA and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Augusta, GA to Boston, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +17.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Boston, MA: price level 108.3 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 108.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,805 in Boston | $84,886 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $2,476/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 40% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $66,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 148.4 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 103.6 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 108.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Boston, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.1%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
15 Weak offer
Boston, MA → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Boston, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Boston, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Boston, MA | Real change, Augusta → Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Boston, MA | Boston pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $98,060 | $83,240 (+32.1%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $166,090 | $140,988 (+17.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $100,150 | $85,014 (+10.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $106,180 | $90,132 (+2.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.