City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Columbus, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, OH are 3.9% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $103,900 in Columbus, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,194 a month in Columbus, OH versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbus, OH and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,600 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Columbus, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.3% moving from Augusta, GA to Columbus, OH ($106,437 → $111,065), while prices change by +3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,880 in Columbus | $96,265 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,194/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $51,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Columbus, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 87.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Columbus, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$2,600/yr.
57 Fair offer
Columbus, OH → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,600/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Columbus, OH is in Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Columbus, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Columbus, OH | Real change, Augusta → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,406 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,926 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,400 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,065 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,245 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Columbus, OH | Columbus pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $78,150 | $75,231 (+19.4%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $122,340 | $117,770 (−1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $81,700 | $78,648 (+2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $83,900 | $80,766 (−8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.