City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 8.6% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $108,600 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,123 in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $503 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Augusta, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Augusta, GA to Visalia, CA ($106,437 → $106,973), while prices change by +8.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.5% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,620 in Visalia | $92,064 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$503/yr.
44 Weak offer
Visalia, CA → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$503/yr.
96 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Augusta → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,033 | −7.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,055 | −7.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,959 | −7.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,973 | −7.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,410 | −7.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $98,430 | $90,619 (+43.8%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $126,170 | $116,157 (−3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,400 | $73,099 (−4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $125,180 | $115,246 (+31.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.