City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Buffalo, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.3% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $104,300 in Buffalo, NY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,139 in Buffalo, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $293 a year higher in Buffalo, NY than in Augusta, GA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.6% moving from Augusta, GA to Buffalo, NY ($106,437 → $111,301), while prices change by +4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.3% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Buffalo, NY: price level 95.8 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Buffalo, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 95.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,288 in Buffalo | $95,888 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,139/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $50,790 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 81.0 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 129.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 95.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Buffalo, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$293/yr.
56 Fair offer
Buffalo, NY → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$293/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Buffalo, NY is in Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Buffalo, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Buffalo, NY | Real change, Augusta → Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,543 | +0.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,091 | +0.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,598 | +0.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,301 | +0.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,525 | +0.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Buffalo, NY | Buffalo pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $76,490 | $73,345 (+16.4%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $127,850 | $122,593 (+2.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $82,120 | $78,743 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $99,060 | $94,987 (+8.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.