Augusta-Richmond County Bloomington

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 91.9 → 95.1
Rent Delta: -$51/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $51/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 3% higher cost of living
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Augusta-Richmond County to Bloomington shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 91.9 to 95.1 (100 = US average), so a Augusta-Richmond County salary needs to be multiplied by 1.03 to hold the same purchasing power in Bloomington. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,261/month in Augusta-Richmond County to $1,210/month in Bloomington - a lower monthly bill of $51, or $612/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $64,684 in Augusta-Richmond County versus $64,582 in Bloomington - a raw gap of $102 lower. The Bloomington labor market has 63,280 tracked jobs against 219,950 in Augusta-Richmond County, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Augusta-Richmond County and Bloomington are 300 and 308 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 15.9:1 at destination. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Augusta-Richmond County
Bloomington
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 91.9
RPP 95.1
Augusta-Richmond County
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,261/mo
$1,210/mo
Bloomington
💼 Wages
$64,684
$64,582
Augusta-Richmond County
🔒 Crime
300 per 100K
308 per 100K
Augusta-Richmond County
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
15.9:1
Augusta-Richmond County
👶 Childcare
$6,591/yr
N/A
Tie
🌿 Environment
2663 violations
1467 violations
Bloomington

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Augusta-Richmond County to see what you'd need to earn in Bloomington to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Bloomington
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bloomington more expensive than Augusta-Richmond County?
Bloomington has an RPP of 95.1 compared to Augusta-Richmond County's 91.9 (100 = national average). Bloomington is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Bloomington is $1,210/mo vs $1,261/mo in Augusta-Richmond County.
What are salaries like in Bloomington compared to Augusta-Richmond County?
The median salary in Bloomington is $64,582 compared to $64,684 in Augusta-Richmond County. That's a -$102 difference.
Is Bloomington safer than Augusta-Richmond County?
The violent crime rate near Bloomington is 308 per 100K vs 300 per 100K near Augusta-Richmond County (state-level data). Augusta-Richmond County has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Bloomington to match my Augusta-Richmond County salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Augusta-Richmond County salary by 1.03. For example, a $75,000 salary in Augusta-Richmond County would need to be $77,596 in Bloomington. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)