City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Augusta, GA are 3.2% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $103,200 in Augusta, GA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,097 in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,299 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Jackson, MS.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Augusta, GA to Jackson, MS changes real buying power by +3.2%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,893 in Jackson | $103,206 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,299/yr.
79 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Augusta, GA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,299/yr.
59 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Jackson, MS | Real change, Augusta → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $50,240 | $51,851 (−17.7%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $96,990 | $100,100 (−16.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $70,720 | $72,987 (−4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $82,630 | $85,279 (−2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.