City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbus, GA (89.3) and Montgomery, AL (89.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbus, GA goes as far as $100,400 in Montgomery, AL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $939 a month in Columbus, GA versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Columbus, GA and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,735 in AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.4% moving from Columbus, GA to Montgomery, AL ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.8% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (much cheaper)
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbus, GA | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,432 in Montgomery | $99,570 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $870/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$168/yr.
67 Fair offer
Montgomery, AL → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$168/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Montgomery, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Columbus → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $59,610 | $59,353 (−3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $110,620 | $110,144 (−5.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $75,040 | $74,717 (+1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $79,570 | $79,228 (−4.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.