City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Detroit, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Detroit, MI are 9.1% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $109,100 in Detroit, MI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,122 in Detroit, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $568 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Detroit, MI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +10.3% moving from Augusta, GA to Detroit, MI ($106,437 → $117,402), while prices change by +9.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.1% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Detroit, MI: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,135 in Detroit | $91,630 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,122/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $52,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 94.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 98.8 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 102.6 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Detroit, MI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$568/yr.
43 Weak offer
Detroit, MI → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$568/yr.
97 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Detroit, MI is in Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Detroit, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Detroit, MI | Real change, Augusta → Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,081 | +1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $82,372 | +1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $98,729 | +1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $117,402 | +1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $138,734 | +1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Detroit, MI | Detroit pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $65,210 | $59,752 (−5.2%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $130,760 | $119,815 (+0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $80,650 | $73,900 (−3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $97,280 | $89,138 (+1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.