City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Dayton, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Dayton, OH (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,900 in Dayton, OH.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $1,009 in Dayton, OH. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 16% in Dayton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,600 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Dayton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.7% moving from Augusta, GA to Dayton, OH ($106,437 → $110,401), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.8% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Dayton, OH: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Dayton, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,861 in Dayton | $99,147 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,009/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 | $49,980 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 72.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 95.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Dayton, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$2,600/yr.
66 Fair offer
Dayton, OH → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$2,600/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Dayton, OH is in Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Dayton, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Dayton, OH | Real change, Augusta → Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,021 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,460 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $92,841 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,401 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,461 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Dayton, OH | Dayton pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $80,360 | $79,674 (+26.5%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $106,910 | $105,998 (−11.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,030 | $78,356 (+2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $82,510 | $81,806 (−6.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.