City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Peoria, IL (91.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $99,300 in Peoria, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,805 in IL.
- 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 Peoria, IL changes real buying power by +0.7%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,269 in Peoria | $100,737 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$238/yr.
71 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$238/yr.
66 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 Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Peoria, IL | Real change, Augusta → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $57,440 | $57,863 (−8.2%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $130,590 | $131,552 (+9.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $79,540 | $80,126 (+4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $81,010 | $81,607 (−7.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.