Cost of Living in Georgia

By Jamie Cattanach

(Last Updated – July 20,2026)

Peaches, pecans, and a plethora of historical and cultural attractions make it easy to understand why so many people have Georgia on their minds.

From the skyscrapers of Atlanta to the dangling Spanish moss over Savannah’s storied squares — and with tons of quaint Southern towns in between — plenty of folks are joining Georgia’s communities. In fact, Georgia’s population increased by nearly 0.90% in the last year, per census data, making it one of the sixth fastest growing states in the country.

Better yet for prospective Georgians, the state has a relatively low cost of living, though your mileage may vary if you opt for a major metropolis such as Atlanta.

Below, find an up-close and personal look at the cost of living in Georgia.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Georgia?

Average Cost of Living in Georgia: $52,806 per year

If you’re considering relocating to Georgia, here’s some good news for your monthly budget: Georgia enjoys the 12th-lowest cost of living in the United States, according to the most recent data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). However, its western next-door neighbor, Alabama, is cheaper on average, holding the second-lowest spot on the list, and Tennessee comes in at ninth.

But what does that look like in real-life terms? According to recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average total personal consumption cost in Georgia is $52,806 per year, broken down like this:

Source: The Bureau of Economic Analysis, Personal Consumption Expenditures by State, 2024

Housing Costs in Georgia

Average Housing Costs in Georgia: $1,302 to $2,400 per month

Keeping a roof over your head in Georgia can be expensive, but it can also be pretty darn affordable. Georgia boasts more than 4.7 million housing units, per recent U.S. Census Bureau data — a good number for its 11.3 million residents. Zillow notes that Georgia’s average home value was $334,465 in May 2026. For comparison, they note that the median value of an existing home in the U.S. was $370,320.

Here’s what that looks like on a monthly basis, per data from the U.S. Census Bureau:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,783

•  Median studio rent: $1,302

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $1,404

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,459

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,568

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $2,118

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $2,400

•  Median gross rent: $1,506

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Recommended: Atlanta Housing Market: Trends and Prices

Of course, exact figures will depend on your specific location. Here are the typical home values for 19 major Georgia cities, according to Zillow in May 2026, from lowest to highest:

Source: Zillow, May 2026

Utility Costs in Georgia

Average Utility Costs in Georgia: $430 per month

Keeping the home fires burning is an important part of anyone’s monthly budget. Here’s how utility costs break down in Georgia:

Source: Doxo Insights 2026 U.S. Household Bill Pay Report

Groceries & Beverage Spending

Average Grocery & Beverage Costs in Georgia: $376 per person, per month

You gotta eat, and stray peach trees won’t sustain you forever. But how much will you have to spend on food in Georgia?

As mentioned, the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates Georgia’s average annual (nonrestaurant) food cost per capita at $4,507. Divide that by 12, and you get about $376 per person, per month.

Of course, that figure will vary significantly depending on where, exactly, in Georgia you are. For example, a loaf of bread costs about $4.35 in Savannah, whereas that same loaf costs only $3.84 in the Statesboro area.

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks the food costs in major American cities. Here are the most recent rankings for Georgia cities’ grocery costs, from lowest to highest:

Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research – Cost-of-Living Index, 2025

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Georgia: $9,260 to $17,390 per year

Whether it’s commuting to work or chauffeuring your Atlanta Brave-in-training to baseball practice, you’ve gotta get around. The specific transportation costs you’ll incur depend on how many adults and children are in your family and how many of the adults are earners, but here’s a basic breakdown, according to the most recent data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator:

Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Georgia: $8,680 per person, per year

The average annual per-capita cost of health care in Georgia is $8,680, according to the most recent Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report.

Obviously, specific costs will vary depending on how many people are in your family, what your health insurance coverage looks like, and how often you need medical attention.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Georgia: $664 to $1,091 per child, per month

The cost of child care is a large but necessary expense for most parents, though there is some wiggle room depending on what kind of care you’re seeking.

For example, classroom care is generally more affordable than home-based family child care, and you may be able to find local nanny shares and other options to help lower the overall cost. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning also offers parents a slate of resources for finding excellent care programs in your community.

Here are the average child care costs in Georgia, per the most recent data from CostofChildCare.org:

Source: CostofChildCare.org

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Georgia: 5.19%

Along with your federal income tax, Georgia, like most other states, also assesses a state income tax, which is offered in graduated brackets depending on your income level.

Per the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, the top marginal tax rate in Georgia is 5.19%. While it’s not the highest in the country (for comparison, South Carolina’s rate is 6.00%, and California’s is 13.30%), it’s not the lowest, either, and it’s worth taking into consideration if you’re deciding whether or not to establish residency in Georgia.

Miscellaneous Costs

All right. That covers all the boring stuff — staying housed, fed, and in the government’s good graces. What about the fun expenses?

As mentioned above, the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates personal expenditures at $28,653 per person, per year. Here’s where some of that money might be going (costs are as of June 2026):

•  Tickets to a home game to watch the Atlanta Braves: start at $10 for standing-room-only upper deck tickets and go up to $413 for the choicest seats, depending on the day

•  Annual membership for Stone Mountain Park: $64.99 per person over 12, $61.99 for children ages 3-11

•  One-day tickets to Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell: $39 per person (online), with additional discounts available

•  A fried chicken dinner at Savannah’s famous Olde Pink House: $37.95, plus tax, tip, drinks, and other items

•  A hearty portion of homemade peach cobbler at Ms. Ruby’s Peach Cobbler Cafe in Buckhead: $7.25

The good news is, plenty of Georgia’s best attractions are 100% free: You can enjoy a stellar sunrise on the beach at Tybee Island, dawdle in Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery, roam the aisles of the sprawling DeKalb Farmers Market, and wander along Atlanta’s hip urban walking and biking path, the Beltline, without paying a dime.

Recommended: What Are the Average Monthly Expenses for One Person?

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Georgia?

Obviously, “comfortable” means something different to everyone, and the amount of money you’ll need to feel comfortable in Georgia (or anywhere, for that matter) will depend on how many people are in your family, what your lifestyle is like, and many other factors.

That said, Georgia ranks 27th on U.S. News and World Report’s Affordability Ranking, which specifically measures the average cost of living in a given state against the average amount of money most households have.

And MERIC puts the state in 12th place on its lowest-cost-of-living list, which is to say: It can be pretty darn cheap to live here, relatively speaking (and, again, depending on where you are and what your life is like).

What Major City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in Georgia?

To stack the odds in your favor for enjoying a comfortable, low-cost lifestyle in Georgia, here are three major cities with a lower cost of living, according to the latest Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost-of-Living Index.