City comparison
Beaumont, TX vs Columbus, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Beaumont, TX (90.0) and Columbus, GA (89.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Beaumont, TX goes as far as $99,200 in Columbus, GA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $898 a month in Beaumont, TX and $939 in Columbus, GA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,567 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Beaumont, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +5.7% moving from Beaumont, TX to Columbus, GA ($106,437 → $112,556), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.6% in real buying power.
- Beaumont, TX: price level 90.0 (much cheaper)
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Beaumont, TX | Columbus, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.0 | 89.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,167 in Columbus | $100,840 in Beaumont |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $898/mo | $939/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,630 | $43,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL |
Rent areas: Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA and Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX and Columbus, GA-AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Beaumont | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 70.9 | 61.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.1 | 89.7 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 90.0 | 89.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Beaumont, TX → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$4,567/yr.
71 Strong offer
Columbus, GA → Beaumont, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$4,567/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Beaumont, TX is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Columbus, GA is in Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Beaumont, TX to Columbus, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Beaumont, TX | Columbus, GA | Real change, Beaumont → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $65,271 | +6.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $78,972 | +6.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $94,654 | +6.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $112,556 | +6.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $133,007 | +6.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Beaumont, TX | Columbus, GA | Columbus pay in Beaumont dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,260 | $61,360 | $61,875 (+2.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,470 | $116,150 | $117,126 (−5.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $73,640 | $74,259 (−3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,180 | $82,500 | $83,193 (+2.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.