City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Birmingham, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Birmingham, AL (91.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $99,700 in Birmingham, AL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,155 in Birmingham, 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 +1.0% moving from Augusta, GA to Birmingham, AL ($106,437 → $107,510), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Birmingham, AL: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,718 in Birmingham | $100,283 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,155/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 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $47,770 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Birmingham, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Birmingham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 71.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 83.8 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Birmingham, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$168/yr.
70 Fair offer
Birmingham, AL → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$168/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Birmingham, AL is in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Birmingham, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Birmingham, AL | Real change, Augusta → Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,344 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,431 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,410 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,510 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,044 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Birmingham, AL | Birmingham pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $62,630 | $62,807 (−0.3%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $125,410 | $125,764 (+5.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $78,660 | $78,882 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $78,680 | $78,902 (−10.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.