Median rent is 21% lower in Augusta-Richmond County ($1,142/mo vs $1,440/mo). Buying is cheaper in Augusta-Richmond County, where the median home runs $178,400 versus $334,100. Households earn more in Chicago ($77,902 vs $55,485 a year).
City A
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
City B
Chicago, IL
How much would you need to earn in Chicago, IL to maintain your standard of living from Augusta-Richmond County, GA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
Chicago
Illinois
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Augusta-Richmond County — median rent of $1,142/mo versus $1,440/mo in Chicago, a 21% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Chicago: the median home is $334,100 versus $178,400 in Augusta-Richmond County — 47% more expensive.
Metric
Augusta-Richmond County
Chicago
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Augusta-Richmond County
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Chicago
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Augusta-Richmond County averages 31.0 AQI (Good) and Chicago averages 31.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($77,902/yr).
Pick Augusta-Richmond County if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,142/mo median).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,142/mo in Augusta-Richmond County, GA and $1,440/mo in Chicago, IL. Augusta-Richmond County, GA has the lower rent by about 21%.
Median household income is $55,485 in Augusta-Richmond County, GA and $77,902 in Chicago, IL. Chicago, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 31.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
