City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbus, GA (89.3) and Springfield, MO (88.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbus, GA goes as far as $99,200 in Springfield, MO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $939 a month in Columbus, GA versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Columbus, GA and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $805 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.4% moving from Columbus, GA to Springfield, MO ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.7% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, GA | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,204 in Springfield | $100,803 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$805/yr.
71 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$805/yr.
66 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Springfield, MO is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Springfield, MO | Real change, Columbus → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $102,240 | $84,690 | $85,370 (−16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $102,350 | $103,171 (−11.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $73,020 | $73,606 (−0.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $79,370 | $80,007 (−3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.