City comparison
Augusta, GA vs College Station, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Augusta, GA are 1.0% higher than in College Station, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in College Station, TX would need about $101,000 in Augusta, GA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,082 in College Station, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in College Station, TX.
- 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 College Station, TX changes real buying power by +1.0%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- College Station, TX: price level 91.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | College Station, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,964 in College Station | $101,047 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $44,470 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and College Station-Bryan, TX MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and College Station-Bryan, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | College Station |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 75.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → College Station, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
72 Strong offer
College Station, TX → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
66 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 College Station, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | College Station, TX | Real change, Augusta → College Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | College Station, TX | College Station pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $57,870 | $58,476 (−7.2%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $101,910 | $102,977 (−14.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $71,810 | $72,562 (−5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $83,090 | $83,960 (−4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.