City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Spartanburg, SC (91.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $99,100 in Spartanburg, SC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $276 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Augusta, GA.
- 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 Spartanburg, SC changes real buying power by +0.9%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,073 in Spartanburg | $100,936 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Spartanburg, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$276/yr.
72 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$276/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 Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Augusta → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $60,990 | $61,561 (−2.3%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $114,460 | $115,531 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $77,080 | $77,801 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $82,360 | $83,131 (−5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.