City comparison
Canton, OH vs Columbus, GA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Canton, OH (89.4) and Columbus, GA (89.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Canton, OH goes as far as $99,900 in Columbus, GA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $939 a month in Columbus, GA versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Columbus, GA and 13% in Canton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,600 a year higher in Columbus, GA than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.3% moving from Canton, OH to Columbus, GA ($111,138 → $112,556), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.4% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (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
| Canton, OH | Columbus, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 89.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,877 in Columbus | $100,123 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $939/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,613 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,567 (GA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $43,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Columbus, GA-AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 61.2 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 89.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 89.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$2,600/yr.
69 Fair offer
Columbus, GA → Canton, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,600/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Columbus, GA is in Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Columbus, GA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Columbus, GA | Real change, Canton → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $65,271 | +1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $78,972 | +1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $94,654 | +1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $112,556 | +1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $133,007 | +1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Columbus, GA | Columbus pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $61,360 | $61,436 (−21.2%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $116,150 | $116,293 (+10.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $73,640 | $73,731 (+2.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $82,500 | $82,602 (+3.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.