Cost of living in Georgia
Prices in Georgia are 3.7% below the US average (27th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,994 in state income tax. State sales tax: 4%.
Price levels in Georgia
| BEA RPP 2024 | Georgia | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Goods | 98.9 | −1.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 88.7 | −11.3% |
| Utilities | 92.8 | −7.2% |
| Other services | 97.3 | −2.7% |
Metros in Georgia
Metros whose principal city is in Georgia. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 6,482,182 | 100.1 | $1,762 | $205 | $787 |
| Augusta, GA-SC | 641,231 | 91.9 | $1,329 | $143 | $1,234 |
| Savannah, GA | 438,314 | 95.2 | $1,679 | $103 | $894 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | 324,830 | 89.3 | $1,212 | $143 | $1,383 |
| Macon, GA | 238,553 | 88.5 | $1,309 | $143 | $1,274 |
| Gainesville, GA | 226,568 | 96.8 | $1,543 | $205 | $1,019 |
| Athens, GA | 224,148 | 93.3 | $1,285 | $143 | $1,333 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 208,091 | 93.8 | $1,396 | $143 | $1,188 |
| Valdosta, GA | 153,276 | 88.3 | $1,179 | $143 | $1,532 |
| Dalton, GA | 147,819 | 89.8 | $1,127 | $143 | $1,427 |
| Albany, GA | 145,510 | 87.7 | $1,103 | $143 | $1,464 |
| Brunswick, GA | 118,524 | 87.7 | $1,378 | $143 | $1,322 |
| Rome, GA | 101,378 | 90.2 | $1,204 | $143 | $1,464 |
| Hinesville, GA | 91,870 | 93.9 | $1,396 | $143 | $1,208 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Georgia: Chattanooga, TN-GA.
Taxes in Georgia (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Georgia income tax | $1,747 | $2,994 | $5,240 | $3,992 |
| Georgia payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,384 | $4,883 | $7,334 | $8,432 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Georgia’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,994 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Georgia
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $109 | $6,897 | $103 |
| Toddler (2) | $102 | $6,484 | $97 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $102 | $6,484 | $97 |
| School-age (5–12) | $55 | $3,496 | $45 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $103 a week in Chatham County to $205 in Camden County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 159 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart County | $65,100 | $994 | 1.53% |
| Dougherty County | $134,400 | $1,781 | 1.33% |
| Brantley County | $99,600 | $1,185 | 1.19% |
| Talbot County | $117,100 | $1,356 | 1.16% |
| Brooks County | $139,200 | $1,583 | 1.14% |
| Pickens County | $332,700 | $1,990 | 0.60% |
| Dawson County | $406,700 | $2,430 | 0.60% |
| Dade County | $198,500 | $1,133 | 0.57% |
| Glynn County | $301,300 | $1,708 | 0.57% |
| Heard County | $186,800 | $1,049 | 0.56% |
Five highest and five lowest of 74 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Georgia
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 266,166 in, 229,454 out (net +36,712).
- Florida52,371 ±8,290
- Texas20,968 ±3,871
- South Carolina16,878 ±4,012
- Alabama15,804 ±5,475
- North Carolina15,283 ±2,967
- California14,052 ±3,801
- New York12,771 ±3,304
- Virginia10,298 ±3,734
- Florida34,388 ±6,124
- Texas19,481 ±3,551
- North Carolina19,031 ±4,094
- South Carolina16,024 ±3,513
- Alabama15,194 ±2,860
- Tennessee10,786 ±2,605
- Virginia9,219 ±3,137
- New York8,252 ±2,319
Frequently asked questions
Is Georgia expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Georgia’s overall price level at 96.3 in 2024 (US = 100), the 27th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 88.7 and goods 98.9.
Does Georgia have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,994 in Georgia income tax under 2026 law (4.0% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Georgia?+
The state rate is 4% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Georgia?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Valdosta, GA leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,532), and Atlanta, GA the least ($787).