City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Kansas City, MO (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,700 in Kansas City, MO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $805 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Augusta, GA to Kansas City, MO ($106,437 → $108,173), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.9% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,696 in Kansas City | $99,308 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$805/yr.
67 Fair offer
Kansas City, MO → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$805/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Augusta → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,729 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,897 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,968 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,173 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,829 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $61,060 | $60,638 (−3.7%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $124,990 | $124,126 (+3.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $80,040 | $79,486 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $83,040 | $82,466 (−6.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.