South ranking
19 Georgia cities ranked by cost of living, cheapest first.
Index 79
Index 105
Sorted by cost-of-living index — lowest (most affordable) first.
| # | City | Cost index | Median rent | Median income | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany | 79 | $889/mo | $43,724 | 69K | Compare → |
| 2 | Valdosta | 81 | $932/mo | $41,365 | 55K | Compare → |
| 3 | Columbus | 82 | $1,038/mo | $54,561 | 205K | Compare → |
| 4 | Macon-Bibb County | 83 | $967/mo | $48,897 | 157K | Compare → |
| 5 | Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) | 87 | $1,023/mo | $50,492 | 202K | Compare → |
| 6 | Warner Robins | 89 | $1,094/mo | $63,678 | 80K | Compare → |
| 7 | Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) | 92 | $1,045/mo | $47,798 | 127K | Compare → |
| 8 | Savannah | 92 | $1,216/mo | $54,748 | 148K | Compare → |
| 9 | Marietta | 103 | $1,372/mo | $67,589 | 61K | Compare → |
| 10 | Stonecrest | 103 | $1,371/mo | $63,438 | 59K | Compare → |
| 11 | South Fulton | 104 | $1,461/mo | $77,488 | 108K | Compare → |
| 12 | Atlanta | 104 | $1,512/mo | $77,655 | 495K | Compare → |
| 13 | Smyrna | 104 | $1,553/mo | $92,258 | 56K | Compare → |
| 14 | Roswell | 104 | $1,619/mo | $122,924 | 93K | Compare → |
| 15 | Sandy Springs | 104 | $1,670/mo | $93,303 | 107K | Compare → |
| 16 | Brookhaven | 104 | $1,711/mo | $114,570 | 57K | Compare → |
| 17 | Dunwoody | 104 | $1,721/mo | $106,710 | 51K | Compare → |
| 18 | Alpharetta | 104 | $1,767/mo | $141,402 | 66K | Compare → |
| 19 | Johns Creek | 105 | $1,944/mo | $153,882 | 82K | Compare → |
Why do people move to Georgia? The most common reasons line up with what the data and geography support: georgia is on the affordable side of the country, real low-cost-of-living options exist here, plus 3 more. The rest is below.
Averaged across the cities we have data for, Georgia's composite cost-of-living index is about 96 — a comfortable 4% under the US norm. The cheapest cities in the state run even further below. Average median rent across Georgia cities runs about $1,363/mo.
The cheapest city in Georgia we have data for is Albany, sitting at a cost-of-living index of 79 — about 21% under the US average. If affordability is the priority, Georgia gives you a real option, not a "well, this town is technically here" caveat.
Median household income across Georgia cities averages about $79,815 — a step above the US median of around $75k. Not a uniformly high-wage state, but the labor market here pays more than most of the country.
We track 19 Georgia cities with full cost data, ranging from small towns to major metros. That means you can actually pick a fit — urban density vs. small-town quiet, expensive vs. cheap, big-job-market vs. easier-commute — instead of having "the state's one big city" be your only option.
Georgia has Atlantic coastline — meaning the ocean is reachable without a flight, and for plenty of residents it's reachable in under an hour. That changes the rhythm of a year: summer plans default to the water, the weather is moderated by being near it, and a lot of the state's culture is tied to fishing, ports, or beach towns.
Reasons reflect aggregated city data for Georgia (Census ACS, BLS, BEA) plus well-known state-level geography. We only list points that are actually supported — different states show different sections.
Across Georgia, Albany is the most affordable city we track (cost index 79, with median rent around $889/mo), while Johns Creek sits at the top of the range with an index of 105—roughly 32% pricier than Albany. Use the table above to compare any Georgia city directly against Albany.
The other end of the ranking — priciest first.