Albany, GA vs Valdosta, GA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Valdosta, GA and Albany, GA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Albany works out to about $75,500 in Valdosta, before taxes.
- Housing is 7.6% higher in Valdosta, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,329 a month in Valdosta and $1,077 in Albany, $3,024 a year more in Valdosta (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $224,000 in Valdosta and $168,000 in Albany.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Valdosta was 3.7% more expensive than Albany.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Albany and Valdosta
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.7 | 88.3 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 54.6 | 58.8 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| Category | Albany | Valdosta | Valdosta vs Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.7 | 88.3 | +0.7% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 54.6 | 58.8 | +7.6% |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 87.8 | −0.5% |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,077 | $1,329 | +23.4% |
| Typical home value | $168,000 | $224,000 | +33.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Albany | $75,000 | $75,500 | +0.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Albany and Valdosta has narrowed since 2008: 2.3 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.5 | 88.8 |
| 2009 | 85.6 | 85.8 |
| 2010 | 87.3 | 88.4 |
| 2011 | 87.7 | 85.7 |
| 2012 | 87.4 | 88.7 |
| 2013 | 88.1 | 87.4 |
| 2014 | 88.5 | 88.1 |
| 2015 | 88.0 | 86.4 |
| 2016 | 89.3 | 87.2 |
| 2017 | 87.3 | 85.8 |
| 2018 | 86.5 | 86.9 |
| 2019 | 84.2 | 87.3 |
| 2020 | 83.8 | 84.9 |
| 2021 | 89.3 | 88.2 |
| 2022 | 86.1 | 89.6 |
| 2023 | 86.5 | 86.8 |
| 2024 | 87.7 | 88.3 |
Goods
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.8 | 94.0 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 91.1 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 96.1 | 94.2 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 90.8 |
| 2013 | 96.1 | 93.2 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 91.5 |
| 2015 | 95.3 | 90.9 |
| 2016 | 96.1 | 92.3 |
| 2017 | 95.7 | 91.6 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2022 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2023 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 50.7 | 69.5 |
| 2009 | 53.2 | 66.8 |
| 2010 | 52.9 | 68.2 |
| 2011 | 53.8 | 57.6 |
| 2012 | 52.2 | 65.4 |
| 2013 | 54.8 | 58.7 |
| 2014 | 53.8 | 60.3 |
| 2015 | 52.9 | 58.4 |
| 2016 | 54.1 | 59.7 |
| 2017 | 52.0 | 57.6 |
| 2018 | 51.3 | 54.8 |
| 2019 | 48.0 | 57.9 |
| 2020 | 50.0 | 54.1 |
| 2021 | 56.5 | 58.6 |
| 2022 | 50.4 | 62.4 |
| 2023 | 50.0 | 51.8 |
| 2024 | 54.6 | 58.8 |
Utilities
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.5 | 81.8 |
| 2009 | 86.5 | 80.1 |
| 2010 | 88.0 | 81.8 |
| 2011 | 92.6 | 87.2 |
| 2012 | 92.7 | 91.5 |
| 2013 | 92.5 | 90.5 |
| 2014 | 93.0 | 92.9 |
| 2015 | 91.7 | 93.5 |
| 2016 | 90.6 | 93.0 |
| 2017 | 89.6 | 94.0 |
| 2018 | 87.9 | 87.4 |
| 2019 | 90.0 | 89.3 |
| 2020 | 91.1 | 89.7 |
| 2021 | 89.9 | 88.5 |
| 2022 | 90.1 | 90.3 |
| 2023 | 85.6 | 85.2 |
| 2024 | 88.3 | 87.8 |
Other services
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 95.2 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 92.0 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 93.5 |
| 2011 | 99.9 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 100.5 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 100.3 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 101.3 | 96.1 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 94.5 |
| 2018 | 97.5 | 97.5 |
| 2019 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2022 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,329 in Valdosta vs $1,077 in Albany
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $624 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $630 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $624 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $632 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $637 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $637 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $650 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $657 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $671 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $671 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $683 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $698 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $706 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $725 | $857 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $751 | $873 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $742 | $880 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $776 | $888 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $818 | $909 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $833 | $982 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $874 | $1,050 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $886 | $1,058 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $924 | $1,105 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $923 | $1,096 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $929 | $1,102 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $957 | $1,127 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $961 | $1,140 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $988 | $1,153 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $986 | $1,168 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,007 | $1,191 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,020 | $1,201 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,000 | $1,235 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,002 | $1,257 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,042 | $1,277 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,036 | $1,282 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,061 | $1,300 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,070 | $1,309 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,049 | $1,307 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,077 | $1,329 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $224,000 in Valdosta vs $168,000 in Albany
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Albany, GA
- Valdosta, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Albany, GA | Valdosta, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $94K | $122K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $95K | $122K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $96K | $123K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $96K | $124K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $96K | $124K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $95K | $123K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $93K | $122K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $93K | $122K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $91K | $121K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $91K | $121K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $92K | $122K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $94K | $123K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $97K | $125K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $98K | $127K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $99K | $128K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $100K | $129K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $101K | $132K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $102K | $134K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $104K | $135K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $105K | $137K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $107K | $139K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $110K | $142K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $112K | $145K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $117K | $150K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $120K | $155K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $124K | $161K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $128K | $168K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $133K | $175K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $141K | $182K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $145K | $189K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $150K | $193K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $151K | $194K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $150K | $195K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $154K | $201K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $156K | $202K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $158K | $203K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $160K | $206K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $165K | $210K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $166K | $212K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $165K | $213K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $165K | $215K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $162K | $215K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $161K | $215K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $162K | $218K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $163K | $221K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $165K | $223K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $168K | $224K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.