City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 11.6% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $111,600 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,114 in Augusta, GA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 18% in Augusta, GA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Augusta, GA to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +11.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.5% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,556 in Worcester | $89,641 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.4%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
36 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Augusta → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $82,810 | $74,232 (+17.8%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $146,950 | $131,728 (+10.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $94,070 | $84,326 (+9.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $100,240 | $89,856 (+2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.