City Comparison

Alexandria vs Augusta

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Augusta

Georgia
80
Very Affordable
$225,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$55,500
Median Income

The Verdict

81.3%

Augusta is 81.3% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $41,379 in Augusta to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
62
Augusta
Groceries
113
Alexandria
96
Augusta
Utilities
97
Alexandria
104
Augusta
Transportation
107
Alexandria
89
Augusta
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
81
Augusta

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $41,379 in Augusta.

Conversely, $75,000 in Augusta equals $135,938 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Augusta

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Augusta's 62, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $225,000. The $365,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,075/mo in Augusta, a monthly difference of $1,050.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Augusta. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Augusta. Augusta offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 104 in Augusta. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $416 in Augusta. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 81 in Augusta. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $55,500 in Augusta. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $69,375 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,295/month in Augusta. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Augusta, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 139 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Augusta is 81.3% more affordable overall with an index of 80 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $41,379 in Augusta, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Augusta's is 62 with median homes at $225,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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