City comparison
Augusta, GA vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Augusta, GA (91.9) and Waco, TX (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Augusta, GA goes as far as $100,700 in Waco, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Augusta, GA and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in Waco, TX.
- 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 Waco, TX changes real buying power by −0.7%, purely from prices.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- Waco, TX: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,704 in Waco | $99,301 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $46,020 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → Waco, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
67 Fair offer
Waco, TX → Augusta, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
71 Strong 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 Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | Waco, TX | Real change, Augusta → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $59,100 | $58,687 (−6.8%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $123,080 | $122,220 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $76,140 | $75,608 (−1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $92,890 | $92,241 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.