What it actually costs to live in Georgia.
Georgia’s cost-of-living index sits at 97 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #30 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Georgia costs about 3% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $395,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,460/mo.
Georgia cost components
| Component | Georgia | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 97 | 100 |
| Median home price | $395,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,460/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $231/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Georgia compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Georgia ranks #30 for cost. That places Georgia in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Georgia metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Atlanta has very different housing dynamics than smaller Georgia metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- AtlantaCOL 113 · home $385,000rent $1,576/mo →
- AugustaCOL 88 · home $200,000rent $850/mo →
- SavannahCOL 100 · home $290,000rent $1,598/mo →
- ColumbusCOL 85 · home $185,000rent $900/mo →
- AthensCOL 91 · home $275,000rent $1,100/mo →
- MaconCOL 82 · home $165,000rent $850/mo →
More Georgia metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Georgia cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Georgia?
Georgia's MERIC cost-of-living index is 97 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Georgia costs about 3% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Georgia?
Georgia's state-level median home price is approximately $395,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Georgia?
Georgia's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,460/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Georgia-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Atlanta metro housing has appreciated 60%+ since 2020, but state COL index remains near 92 (8% below national); large affordability gap between intown Atlanta and exurbs.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.