City comparison
Columbia, SC vs Huntsville, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbia, SC (93.7) and Huntsville, AL (93.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbia, SC goes as far as $99,400 in Huntsville, AL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,164 a month in Columbia, SC and $1,136 in Huntsville, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,843 a year in SC and $4,735 in AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.1% moving from Columbia, SC to Huntsville, AL ($106,437 → $110,847), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.8% in real buying power.
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbia, SC | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.7 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,370 in Huntsville | $100,634 in Columbia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,164/mo | $1,136/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,430 | $51,740 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN |
Rent areas: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Huntsville, AL MSA. Metro areas: Columbia, SC and Huntsville, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbia | Huntsville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.5 | 77.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 83.9 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 93.7 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbia, SC → Huntsville, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$108/yr.
71 Strong offer
Huntsville, AL → Columbia, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$108/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbia, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Huntsville, AL is in Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbia, SC to Huntsville, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbia, SC | Huntsville, AL | Real change, Columbia → Huntsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,279 | +4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,772 | +4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,216 | +4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,847 | +4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,987 | +4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbia, SC | Huntsville, AL | Huntsville pay in Columbia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | $62,250 | $62,645 (+4.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,380 | $128,080 | $128,892 (+4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $79,220 | $79,722 (+15.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,920 | $77,090 | $77,579 (−5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.