City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Des Moines, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Des Moines, IA (91.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $99,800 in Des Moines, IA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,109 in Des Moines, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,419 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.8% moving from Augusta, GA to Des Moines, IA ($106,437 → $107,301), while prices change by −0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,780 in Des Moines | $100,220 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,109/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $51,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 84.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 84.6 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 92.9 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,419/yr.
69 Fair offer
Des Moines, IA → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,419/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Des Moines, IA is in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Des Moines, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Des Moines, IA | Real change, Augusta → Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,223 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,284 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,234 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,301 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,797 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $61,650 | $61,786 (−1.9%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $126,460 | $126,739 (+5.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,290 | $79,465 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $78,630 | $78,803 (−10.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.