City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Tucson, AZ are 5.4% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $105,400 in Tucson, AZ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,081 in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,276 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Augusta, GA to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by +5.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.4% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,433 in Tucson | $94,847 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Tucson, AZ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,276/yr.
53 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,276/yr.
86 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Augusta → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | −3.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | −3.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | −3.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | −3.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | −3.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $47,220 | $44,787 (−28.9%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $123,710 | $117,335 (−2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $76,320 | $72,387 (−5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $94,110 | $89,261 (+1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.