Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Augusta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 6% higher in Columbus, GA. Both cities are in Georgia, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Augusta, GA
Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio
$784
$826
+5% in Columbus, GA
1 Bedroom
$916
$875
+4% in Augusta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$991
+4% in Augusta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$1,221
+1% in Augusta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$182,300
+12% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$56,622
+7% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$43,540
+5% in Augusta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
35.1 yr
+0.2 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
50.9%
50.2%
+0.7 pp in Augusta, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
29.7%
+5.5 pp in Columbus, GA
Avg Commute
20.6 min
20.2 min
+0.4 min in Augusta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
612.3
+12% in Columbus, GA
Property Crime
3,652
2,273.4
+38% in Augusta, GA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.2°F
65.7°F
+0.5°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
46.8 in
+0.2 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
15.8
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$33.28
about equal

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / GA)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
5.19%
about equal

Augusta vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Columbus?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Augusta, GA's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Columbus?
Neither — both are in Georgia, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).