City comparison
Austin, TX vs Columbia, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Austin, TX are 4.7% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $104,700 in Austin, TX to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,562 a month in Austin, TX versus $1,164 in Columbia, SC. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Austin, TX and 19% in Columbia, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Columbia, SC than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Columbia, SC ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Austin, TX | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 93.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,509 in Columbia | $104,702 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,164/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $46,430 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Columbia, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 79.5 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 93.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Columbia, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
83 Strong offer
Columbia, SC → Austin, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Columbia, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Columbia, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Columbia, SC | Real change, Austin → Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Columbia, SC | Columbia pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $60,050 | $62,874 (+2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $123,380 | $129,181 (−3.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $69,210 | $72,464 (−12.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $81,920 | $85,772 (−12.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.