Cost of Living in Augusta, GA
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Augusta, GA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Augusta, GA?
With a price level of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), Augusta, GA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 29% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Augusta, GA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.9 | −8.1% |
| Housing | 70.6 | −29.4% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 89.5 | −10.5% |
| Other services | 98.5 | −1.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Augusta, GA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $937 | $37,480/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,110 | $44,400/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,258 | $50,320/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,623 | $64,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,976 | $79,040/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Augusta, GA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Augusta, GA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,800 | $30,462 |
| $60,000 | $55,100 | $44,216 |
| $80,000 | $73,500 | $57,345 |
| $100,000 | $91,900 | $69,335 |
| $150,000 | $137,900 | $98,986 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Georgia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Augusta, GA's median wage of $45,990 takes home about $3,114 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,110, which is 36% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,004 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Augusta, GA
- Federal income tax$3,339
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,851
- Medicare (1.45%)$667
- Georgia income tax$1,764
- Take-home pay$37,369
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Highest-paying jobs in Augusta, GA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $102,360 | $76,151 | $82,860 |
| Registered Nurse | $87,760 | $66,637 | $72,508 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,000 | $50,154 | $54,572 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $47,920 | $38,819 | $42,240 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $46,130 | $37,474 | $40,776 |
| Customer Service Representative | $39,570 | $32,544 | $35,411 |
| Office Clerks, General | $39,530 | $32,514 | $35,378 |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,140 | $30,717 | $33,424 |
| First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,120 | $30,702 | $33,407 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,640 | $30,341 | $33,015 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $34,160 | $28,477 | $30,986 |
| Security Guard | $33,450 | $27,944 | $30,406 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $30,630 | $25,824 | $28,100 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,350 | $24,862 | $27,053 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $28,730 | $24,396 | $26,546 |
| Cashier | $28,310 | $24,077 | $26,198 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $26,620 | $22,773 | $24,779 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $18,390 | $16,423 | $17,869 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Georgia cities
Half of Georgia’s 4,889,170 workers earn less than $48,170 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,700–$77,570 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Warner Robins, GA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Athens, GA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | 100.1 | $1,646 | 48% | $1,793 | $41,238 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,700 | 91.5 | $1,263 | 40% | $1,896 | $41,440 |
| Augusta, GA | $45,990 | 91.9 | $1,110 | 36% | $2,004 | $40,661 |
| Savannah, GA | $47,240 | 95.2 | $1,533 | 48% | $1,659 | $40,237 |
| Columbus, GA | $43,540 | 89.3 | $936 | 32% | $2,025 | $39,786 |
| Gainesville, GA | $45,900 | 96.8 | $1,381 | 44% | $1,727 | $38,548 |
| Athens, GA | $41,220 | 93.3 | $1,183 | 42% | $1,632 | $36,193 |
| Macon, GA | $45,160 | 88.5 | $1,145 | 37% | $1,917 | $41,507 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,600 | 93.8 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,085 | $41,935 |
| Dalton, GA | $42,210 | 89.8 | $879 | 31% | $1,998 | $38,431 |
| Albany, GA | $43,620 | 87.7 | $1,006 | 34% | $1,960 | $40,593 |
| Valdosta, GA | $39,110 | 88.3 | $921 | 34% | $1,762 | $36,476 |
| Brunswick, GA | $41,940 | 87.7 | $1,105 | 39% | $1,755 | $39,135 |
| Rome, GA | $42,670 | 90.2 | $923 | 32% | $1,983 | $38,679 |
| Hinesville, GA | $46,670 | 93.9 | $1,232 | 39% | $1,925 | $40,327 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Augusta, GA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, GA | 91.9 | $1,110 | $45,990 | 231,930 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 92.6 | $906 | $47,700 | 225,520 |
| Trenton, NJ | 103.2 | $1,545 | $63,490 | 240,190 |
| Springfield, MO | 88.6 | $868 | $45,780 | 223,030 |
| Deltona, FL | 99.4 | $1,393 | $44,940 | 219,740 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 100.9 | $1,387 | $55,380 | 219,730 |
| Palm Bay, FL | 100.0 | $1,478 | $49,030 | 245,170 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Augusta, GA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area are 91.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 70.6%. It is the #247 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Augusta, GA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,142 in Augusta, GA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,990.
Can you afford Augusta, GA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,990 median wage takes home about $3,114 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,110 would take 36% of that.
How much is rent in Augusta, GA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Augusta, GA are $937 for a studio, $1,110 for one bedroom, $1,258 for two bedrooms and $1,623 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Augusta, GA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $102,360
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $87,760
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,140
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $28,730
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $33,450
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,120
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,620
- Waiter and Waitress — $18,390
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,350
- Cashier — $28,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Customer Service Representative — $39,570
- Office Clerks, General — $39,530
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,130
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $47,920
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,640
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,160