Duluth Augusta-Richmond County

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 88.8 → 91.9
Rent Delta: +$29/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - 3% higher cost of living
  • - $6K lower median salary
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Duluth to Augusta-Richmond County shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 88.8 to 91.9 (100 = US average), so a Duluth salary needs to be multiplied by 1.04 to hold the same purchasing power in Augusta-Richmond County. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,232/month in Duluth to $1,261/month in Augusta-Richmond County - a higher monthly bill of $29, or $348/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 $70,452 in Duluth versus $64,684 in Augusta-Richmond County - a raw gap of $5,768 lower. The Augusta-Richmond County labor market has 219,950 tracked jobs against 117,960 in Duluth, 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 Duluth and Augusta-Richmond County are 259 and 300 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 15.8:1 at origin versus 14.4:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $11,722/year in Duluth versus $6,591/year in Augusta-Richmond County. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Duluth
Augusta-Richmond County
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 88.8
RPP 91.9
Duluth
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,232/mo
$1,261/mo
Duluth
💼 Wages
$70,452
$64,684
Duluth
🔒 Crime
259 per 100K
300 per 100K
Duluth
🎓 Schools
15.8:1
14.4:1
Augusta-Richmond County
👶 Childcare
$11,722/yr
$6,591/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
🌿 Environment
845 violations
2663 violations
Duluth

Salary Adjustment Calculator

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

Equivalent salary in Augusta-Richmond County
-

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Augusta-Richmond County more expensive than Duluth?
Augusta-Richmond County has an RPP of 91.9 compared to Duluth's 88.8 (100 = national average). Augusta-Richmond County is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Augusta-Richmond County is $1,261/mo vs $1,232/mo in Duluth.
What are salaries like in Augusta-Richmond County compared to Duluth?
The median salary in Augusta-Richmond County is $64,684 compared to $70,452 in Duluth. That's a -$5,768 difference.
Is Augusta-Richmond County safer than Duluth?
The violent crime rate near Augusta-Richmond County is 300 per 100K vs 259 per 100K near Duluth (state-level data). Duluth has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Augusta-Richmond County to match my Duluth salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Duluth salary by 1.04. For example, a $75,000 salary in Duluth would need to be $77,649 in Augusta-Richmond County. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

Explore PlainRelocate

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)