City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Tuscaloosa, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, GA are 1.8% higher than in Tuscaloosa, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL would need about $101,800 in Columbus, GA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $939 a month in Columbus, GA and $972 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,735 in AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.5% moving from Columbus, GA to Tuscaloosa, AL ($112,556 → $107,510), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.8% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- Tuscaloosa, AL: price level 87.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, GA | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 87.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,237 in Tuscaloosa | $101,794 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $972/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $45,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Tuscaloosa, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 58.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 87.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Tuscaloosa, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$168/yr.
74 Strong offer
Tuscaloosa, AL → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$168/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Tuscaloosa, AL is in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Tuscaloosa, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Tuscaloosa, AL | Real change, Columbus → Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $62,344 | −2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $75,431 | −2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $90,410 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $107,510 | −2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $127,044 | −2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $60,220 | $61,301 (−0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $104,870 | $106,752 (−8.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $71,690 | $72,976 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $75,250 | $76,600 (−7.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.