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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Georgia is a genuine bargain: 5 of the 5 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Atlanta leads at an index of 110 with rent at just $1,888/month — 0% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Atlanta — cost index 110, rent $1,888/mo, income $81,938
5 of 5 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Georgia is a genuine bargain: 5 of the 5 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Atlanta leads at an index of 110 with rent at just $1,888/month — 0% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Rent data is sourced from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks the median rent across all active listings — not just new leases. This gives a more representative and stable signal than asking prices alone. Atlanta: $1,888/mo, Savannah: $1,736/mo, Athens: $1,720/mo. The cheapest city here is $7 under the national median — that's $84/year in savings on rent alone (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
The #1 spot goes to Atlanta, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,888/month — saving renters $84 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 110. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Bottom line: Atlanta leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers. I'll say what the data can't: this city punches above its weight in ways that don't show up in a spreadsheet. There's a reason people who move here tend to stay. You can call it quality of life, you can call it vibes, whatever — the point is, the cost structure gives people room to actually enjoy where they live, and that's increasingly rare in this country.
510,823 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Atlanta: the cost index of 110 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 102 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 110 (weakest). That's a reasonable number. 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.
147,748 residents · Georgia
Savannah is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,736/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 101. Income sits at $56,782. Standard stuff, really.
128,628 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Athens: the cost index of 100 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 100 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 100 (weakest). Median rent is $1,720/month — 9% below the national median — while household income sits at $51,655, meaning locals spend about 40% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median (your mileage may vary — literally).
200,884 residents · Georgia
What does daily life actually cost in Augusta? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 77) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 95) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $53,134 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $173,222 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons. A real contender.
156,512 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Macon: the cost index of 70 breaks down to a Housing index of 70 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (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.
Atlanta ranks #1 in Georgia for this analysis with a cost index of 110 and median income of $81,938.
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.
Atlanta (ranked #1) has a cost index of 110 and rent of $1,888/mo, while Macon (ranked #5) has a cost index of 70 and rent of $1,207/mo — a 40-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 Atlanta is $1,888/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $7 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Atlanta is $381,549, which is 4.7× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.