City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Huntsville, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Huntsville, AL are 1.3% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $101,300 in Huntsville, AL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,136 in Huntsville, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,735 in AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.1% moving from Augusta, GA to Huntsville, AL ($106,437 → $110,847), while prices change by +1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.8% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,272 in Huntsville | $98,744 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,136/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $51,740 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Huntsville, AL MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Huntsville, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Huntsville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 77.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 83.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Huntsville, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$168/yr.
65 Fair offer
Huntsville, AL → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$168/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Huntsville, AL is in Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Huntsville, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Huntsville, AL | Real change, Augusta → Huntsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,279 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,772 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,216 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,847 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,987 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Huntsville, AL | Huntsville pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $62,250 | $61,468 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $128,080 | $126,471 (+5.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,220 | $78,225 (+2.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $77,090 | $76,122 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.