USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Georgia

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 96.3 3.7% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 27th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 88.7 25th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $52,952 42nd of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Georgia are 3.7% below the national average, the 27th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Within Georgia, metro price levels run from 87.7 in Albany, GA to 100.1 in Atlanta, GA (US = 100).
  • Compared with the rest of the country, Georgia has become more expensive since 2019: the index went from 94.4 to 96.3, and its rank from 29th to 27th most expensive. Housing in Georgia moved most, from 81.8 to 88.7.
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $52,952 in 2017 dollars, 42nd of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • In Georgia, housing (11.3% below average) and everyday costs (goods 1.1% below average, other services 2.7% below average) are both below the US level, so the gap is broad rather than just rent.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Georgia, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 11.3% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
96.3
Goods
98.9
Housing (rents)
88.7
Utilities
92.8
Other services
97.3

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
All items96.3
Goods98.9
Housing (rents)88.7
Utilities92.8
Other services97.3

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $3.86 a gallon in the Lower Atlantic region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.42 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for Georgia, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Georgia

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 15 metro areas BEA measures in Georgia are Albany, GA (87.7), Brunswick, GA (87.7) and Valdosta, GA (88.3); the most expensive is Atlanta, GA (100.1). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Albany, GA is the cheapest metro area in Georgia (87.7); Atlanta, GA the most expensive (100.1)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Albany, GA
87.7
Brunswick, GA
87.7
Valdosta, GA
88.3
Macon, GA
88.5
Columbus, GA Spans GA, AL
89.3
Dalton, GA
89.8
Rome, GA
90.2
Chattanooga, TN Spans TN, GA
91.5
Augusta, GA Spans GA, SC
91.9
Athens, GA
93.3
Warner Robins, GA
93.8
Hinesville, GA
93.9
Savannah, GA
95.2
Gainesville, GA
96.8
Atlanta, GA
100.1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Albany, GA87.7
Brunswick, GA87.7
Valdosta, GA88.3
Macon, GA88.5
Columbus, GA89.3
Dalton, GA89.8
Rome, GA90.2
Chattanooga, TN91.5
Augusta, GA91.9
Athens, GA93.3
Warner Robins, GA93.8
Hinesville, GA93.9
Savannah, GA95.2
Gainesville, GA96.8
Atlanta, GA100.1
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Albany, GA 87.7 54.6 96.3 88.3 98.7 $1,077
Brunswick, GA 87.7 56.3 96.3 87.3 98.7 $1,673
Valdosta, GA 88.3 58.8 96.3 87.8 98.7 $1,329
Macon, GA 88.5 58.9 96.3 89.5 98.7 $1,212
Columbus, GA 89.3 61.2 96.3 89.7 98.6 $1,353
Dalton, GA 89.8 63.3 96.3 88.8 98.7 $1,402
Rome, GA 90.2 60.3 96.3 90.7 98.7 $1,267
Chattanooga, TN 91.5 76.6 96.0 74.2 95.3 $1,509
Augusta, GA 91.9 70.6 96.3 89.5 98.5 $1,464
Athens, GA 93.3 76.8 96.3 89.3 98.7 $1,776
Warner Robins, GA 93.8 79.2 96.3 88.1 98.7 $1,505
Hinesville, GA 93.9 79.5 96.3 86.8 98.7 $1,745
Savannah, GA 95.2 86.0 96.3 88.6 98.7 $1,771
Gainesville, GA 96.8 93.5 96.3 89.6 98.7 $1,701
Atlanta, GA 100.1 111.0 100.4 96.2 96.7 $1,843

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Georgia has become more expensive relative to the US since 2008: 94.3 then, 96.3 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
200894.3
200991.9
201094.6
201193.7
201295.3
201394.9
201495.0
201594.7
201695.0
201795.3
201894.8
201994.4
202094.5
202195.7
202295.7
202396.5
202496.3

Goods: 94.4 in 2008, 98.9 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
200894.4
200995.9
201096.6
201196.8
201297.2
201397.9
201497.2
201597.0
201697.2
201797.2
201897.8
201996.4
202096.4
202196.6
202297.6
202397.7
202498.9

Housing (rents): 82.7 in 2008, 88.7 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
200882.7
200983.2
201081.5
201180.9
201280.5
201379.4
201479.4
201580.5
201681.2
201781.7
201881.8
201981.8
202083.1
202185.4
202287.6
202388.3
202488.7

Utilities: 91.0 in 2008, 92.8 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
200891.0
200989.4
201093.1
201197.8
201298.0
201397.7
201496.8
201598.4
201698.1
201799.4
201894.4
201996.8
202096.8
202195.7
202297.5
202392.3
202492.8

Other services: 99.1 in 2008, 97.3 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Georgia
200899.1
200992.5
201098.6
201196.0
201299.6
201398.5
201499.1
201598.0
201698.3
201798.6
201897.4
201997.3
202097.4
202198.8
202296.8
202398.8
202497.3

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Georgia is $52,952, 42nd of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Georgia
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
GeorgiaUnited States
2008$42,002$45,816
2009$41,941$44,204
2010$40,640$44,808
2011$42,349$45,957
2012$41,403$46,796
2013$41,305$46,358
2014$42,937$47,661
2015$45,136$49,396
2016$45,879$49,828
2017$47,171$51,006
2018$48,278$52,242
2019$49,762$53,683
2020$52,219$56,514
2021$54,051$59,365
2022$51,732$57,104
2023$51,643$58,088
2024$52,952$59,195

Compare Georgia with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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