City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Utica, NY (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,800 in Utica, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $293 a year higher in Utica, NY 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by −0.8%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,843 in Utica | $99,164 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$293/yr.
66 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$293/yr.
71 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Utica, NY | Real change, Augusta → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $106,110 | $98,280 | $97,458 (−8.2%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $113,390 | $112,442 (−6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,830 | $79,162 (+3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $94,300 | $93,511 (+6.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.