City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,300 in Rockford, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,805 in IL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Augusta, GA to Rockford, IL ($106,437 → $118,984), while prices change by +0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.5% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,273 in Rockford | $99,728 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $895/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% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$238/yr.
68 Fair offer
Rockford, IL → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$238/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Rockford, IL | Real change, Augusta → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $68,999 | +11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,482 | +11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,059 | +11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $118,984 | +11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $140,604 | +11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $64,200 | $64,025 (+1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $107,640 | $107,347 (−10.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $75,260 | $75,055 (−2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $80,930 | $80,710 (−8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.