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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (20%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Georgia using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Macon comes out…
#1 Ranked: Macon — cost index 87, rent $1,207/mo, income $50,747
1 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K
1 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (20%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Georgia using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Macon comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
Why Macon ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 87 on the cost index, residents save roughly 25% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,207/month while the median household pulls in $50,747/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 67, though Healthcare (90) lags behind. Home prices average $167,317 — $300,053 below the national median.
On a $50K salary, the key number is $1,250/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Macon ($1,207/mo, 29%), Augusta ($1,321/mo, 32%), Athens ($1,720/mo, 41%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $37,377 to $37,377/year across these top picks.
For all that, there's a counter-signal worth noting: State context matters: Georgia's 6 cities average a 98 cost index with $1,312/month median rent and $62,676 household income. Atlanta's metro pull alongside rural affordability. The linked city profiles go deeper than this ranking ever could (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
156,512 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Macon: the cost index of 87 breaks down to a Housing index of 67 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 90 (weakest). Median rent is $1,207/month — 36% below the national median — while household income sits at $50,747, meaning locals spend about 29% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
200,884 residents · Georgia
The #2 spot goes to Augusta, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,321/month — saving renters $6,888 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 73, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 92. The 30% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended. Worth a deeper look.
128,628 residents · Georgia
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Athens? Start with the 40% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 94) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 107) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $51,655 and homes at $332,919 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons. Not flashy. Just effective.
147,748 residents · Georgia
Savannah comes in at #4. Rent is $1,736 a month. Household income is $56,782. The cost of living index is 102. It lines up with what you'd expect (we double-checked this one).
510,823 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Atlanta: the cost index of 108 breaks down to a Utilities index of 99 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 119 (weakest). Median rent is $1,888/month — 0% above the national median — while household income sits at $81,938, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Macon | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $37,377 |
2Augusta | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $37,377 |
3Athens | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $37,377 |
4Savannah | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $37,377 |
5Atlanta | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $37,377 |
Macon ranks #1 in Georgia for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $50,747.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Macon, rent would consume about 29% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Macon (ranked #1) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,207/mo, while Atlanta (ranked #5) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,888/mo — a 21-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Macon is $1,207/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $688 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.49% state income tax, estimated take-home on $50K in Macon is approximately $37,377/year ($3,115/month). After median rent of $1,207/month, you'd have roughly $22,893/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Macon is $167,317, which is 3.3× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Georgia has a 5.49% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.38%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.83%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.