Macon, GA vs The Villages, FL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, The Villages, FL is 3.5% less expensive than Macon, GA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Macon works out to about $72,400 in The Villages, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.0% lower and other services 0.2% higher in The Villages, while housing is 12.2% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,723 a month in The Villages and $1,212 in Macon, $6,132 a year more in The Villages (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $388,000 in The Villages and $197,000 in Macon.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when The Villages was 8.4% more expensive than Macon.
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Macon and The Villages
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.5 | 85.4 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 58.9 | 51.7 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.9 |
| Category | Macon | The Villages | The Villages vs Macon |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.5 | 85.4 | −3.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 58.9 | 51.7 | −12.2% |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 89.0 | −0.5% |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.9 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,212 | $1,723 | +42.2% |
| Typical home value | $197,000 | $388,000 | +96.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Macon | $75,000 | $72,400 | −3.5% |
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 Macon and The Villages has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 3.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.3 | 90.4 |
| 2009 | 89.2 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 89.5 | 91.0 |
| 2011 | 90.8 | 90.4 |
| 2012 | 90.1 | 93.0 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 93.4 |
| 2014 | 88.0 | 93.1 |
| 2015 | 89.8 | 93.7 |
| 2016 | 89.9 | 93.8 |
| 2017 | 89.8 | 91.3 |
| 2018 | 88.6 | 93.3 |
| 2019 | 87.0 | 94.2 |
| 2020 | 85.3 | 92.1 |
| 2021 | 87.3 | 96.0 |
| 2022 | 90.2 | 91.1 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 94.5 |
| 2024 | 88.5 | 85.4 |
Goods
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 93.7 |
| 2009 | 94.7 | 90.7 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 93.7 |
| 2012 | 95.8 | 90.3 |
| 2013 | 96.2 | 93.0 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 91.3 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 90.5 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 92.2 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 91.5 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 95.3 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 95.7 |
| 2022 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2023 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 68.1 | 74.7 |
| 2009 | 64.4 | 92.3 |
| 2010 | 60.2 | 76.4 |
| 2011 | 61.9 | 73.9 |
| 2012 | 60.8 | 85.9 |
| 2013 | 58.3 | 80.3 |
| 2014 | 54.2 | 78.2 |
| 2015 | 58.5 | 87.6 |
| 2016 | 57.7 | 89.7 |
| 2017 | 59.7 | 81.7 |
| 2018 | 60.0 | 78.0 |
| 2019 | 56.4 | 88.7 |
| 2020 | 54.9 | 80.1 |
| 2021 | 54.4 | 88.8 |
| 2022 | 61.6 | 70.1 |
| 2023 | 64.0 | 80.2 |
| 2024 | 58.9 | 51.7 |
Utilities
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.3 | 90.6 |
| 2009 | 90.2 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 91.0 | 89.9 |
| 2011 | 95.0 | 89.0 |
| 2012 | 94.4 | 92.5 |
| 2013 | 95.9 | 88.6 |
| 2014 | 95.6 | 95.2 |
| 2015 | 94.5 | 96.1 |
| 2016 | 92.7 | 92.0 |
| 2017 | 92.3 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 90.5 | 88.5 |
| 2019 | 92.5 | 89.6 |
| 2020 | 93.5 | 86.1 |
| 2021 | 91.6 | 86.4 |
| 2022 | 92.9 | 91.9 |
| 2023 | 88.4 | 91.1 |
| 2024 | 89.5 | 89.0 |
Other services
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.8 | 95.0 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 94.4 |
| 2011 | 100.1 | 95.5 |
| 2012 | 100.6 | 98.3 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 100.0 | 99.9 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 98.2 |
| 2016 | 101.4 | 96.5 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 94.8 |
| 2018 | 97.5 | 98.8 |
| 2019 | 95.6 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 96.0 |
| 2021 | 99.4 | 99.7 |
| 2022 | 99.5 | 99.9 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 99.8 |
| 2024 | 98.7 | 98.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,723 in The Villages vs $1,212 in Macon
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $718 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $715 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $700 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $719 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $734 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $740 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $732 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $745 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $759 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $781 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $787 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $791 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $825 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $808 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $803 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $823 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $838 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $886 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $869 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $900 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $994 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,054 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,009 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,040 | $1,455 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,089 | $1,574 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,087 | $1,625 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,064 | $1,718 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,108 | $1,617 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,140 | $1,659 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,152 | $1,667 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,115 | $1,721 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,140 | $1,733 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,156 | $1,713 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,172 | $1,729 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,152 | $1,776 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,176 | $1,691 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,181 | $1,660 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,177 | $1,679 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,177 | $1,677 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,182 | $1,707 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,203 | $1,680 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,212 | $1,723 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $388,000 in The Villages vs $197,000 in Macon
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Macon, GA
- The Villages, FL
- 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
| Macon, GA | The Villages, FL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $98K | $251K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $99K | $253K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $101K | $254K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $103K | $253K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $104K | $250K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $103K | $249K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $103K | $249K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $102K | $250K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $102K | $251K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $102K | $252K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $104K | $253K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $107K | $256K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $108K | $259K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $110K | $263K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $113K | $268K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $115K | $273K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $119K | $277K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $122K | $280K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $124K | $284K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $126K | $287K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $128K | $290K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $128K | $291K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $131K | $295K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $138K | $300K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $143K | $301K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $150K | – | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $153K | $329K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $156K | $352K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $165K | $379K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $174K | $411K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $179K | $420K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $180K | $415K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $178K | $409K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $183K | $408K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $186K | $404K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $187K | $400K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $187K | $398K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $193K | $399K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $194K | $398K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $194K | $397K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $193K | $395K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $191K | $393K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $191K | $390K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $193K | $391K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $195K | $391K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $196K | $388K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $197K | $388K | $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.