City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Omaha, NE
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Omaha, NE (91.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,000 in Omaha, NE.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,148 in Omaha, NE.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $897 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Omaha, NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.0% moving from Augusta, GA to Omaha, NE ($106,437 → $107,501), while prices change by +0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Omaha, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,009 in Omaha | $99,991 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,148/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Omaha, NE-IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 86.4 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 76.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Omaha, NE
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$897/yr.
69 Fair offer
Omaha, NE → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$897/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Omaha, NE is in Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Omaha, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Omaha, NE | Real change, Augusta → Omaha |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,339 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,425 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,402 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,501 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,033 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Omaha, NE | Omaha pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $62,670 | $62,665 (−0.5%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $125,220 | $125,209 (+4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $77,030 | $77,023 (+0.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $84,600 | $84,593 (−3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.