$150K in Rochester = $135,638 in Augusta

Your $150K salary in Rochester (COL 94) has the same purchasing power as $135,638 in Augusta (COL 85). Augusta is cheaper โ€” your money goes 10% further there.

$150K in Rochester, MN
$7,706/mo take-home
Rent: $1,400/mo (18% of take-home)
Very comfortable
$135,638/yr in Augusta, GA
$7,466/mo take-home
Rent: $1,200/mo (16% of take-home)
Very comfortable

Budget breakdown โ€” $150K in both cities

What $150K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Rochester
$150K
Augusta
$150K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$7,706$8,256
1BR rent$1,400$1,200
Groceries$380$353
Transport$55$42
Utilities$168$162
Internet$62$58
Left after essentials$5,641/month$6,441/month
To match your Rochester purchasing power in Augusta, you'd need to earn $135,638/year (10% less than $150K). At that salary, you'd have $5,651/mo left after essentials โ€” vs $5,641/mo in Rochester.

Frequently asked questions

What is $150K in Rochester equivalent to in Augusta?

$150K in Rochester (COL index 94) has the same purchasing power as $135,638 in Augusta (COL index 85). That's 10% less than your current salary.

If I move from Rochester to Augusta keeping my $150K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $150K after moving to Augusta, you'd have $800 more per month after core expenses โ€” because Augusta is cheaper than Rochester.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $150K ร— (85 รท 94) = $135,638. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow ยท BLS ยท Numbeo ยท Q1 2026 ยท For general guidance only