City comparison
Augusta, GA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 4.5% higher than in Augusta, GA. Someone earning $100,000 in Augusta, GA would need about $104,500 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,114 a month in Augusta, GA and $1,060 in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,497 a year higher in Augusta, GA than in York, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Augusta, GA to York, PA ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.5% in real buying power.
- Augusta, GA: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Augusta, GA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.9 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,458 in York | $95,732 in Augusta |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,114/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,990 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Augusta | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.6 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 91.9 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Augusta, GA → York, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,497/yr.
55 Fair offer
York, PA → Augusta, GA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,497/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Augusta, GA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Augusta, GA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Augusta, GA | York, PA | Real change, Augusta → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Augusta, GA | York, PA | York pay in Augusta dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $79,730 | $76,327 (+21.2%) |
| Software Developers | $119,780 | $114,600 | $109,709 (−8.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,710 | $75,160 | $71,952 (−6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | $96,210 | $92,104 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.