City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Cincinnati, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 3.8% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $103,800 in Cincinnati, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $1,051 in Cincinnati, OH. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 16% in Cincinnati, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,600 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Cincinnati, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.2% moving from Augusta, GA to Cincinnati, OH ($106,437 → $110,865), while prices change by +3.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Cincinnati, OH: price level 95.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Cincinnati, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 95.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,772 in Cincinnati | $96,365 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,051/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $50,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 87.6 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 91.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 95.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Cincinnati, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.6%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$2,600/yr.
57 Fair offer
Cincinnati, OH → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,600/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Cincinnati, OH is in Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Cincinnati, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Cincinnati, OH | Real change, Augusta → Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,290 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,785 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,231 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,865 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,009 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $64,740 | $62,386 (−1.0%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $121,420 | $117,006 (−2.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $80,640 | $77,708 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $83,650 | $80,609 (−8.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.