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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 5 of 5 cities in Georgia beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Augusta stands out at 77 on the index, with rent of $1,321/month and household income of $53,134. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
The numbers are clear: 5 of 5 cities in Georgia beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 111. Augusta stands out at 77 on the index, with rent of $1,321/month and household income of $53,134. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
What does daily life actually cost in Augusta? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. And on balance, 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 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — and homes at $173,222 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
The 3.5× rule is a conservative benchmark: lenders often approve up to 4-5× income, but 3.5× keeps monthly payments safely under 28% of gross income at typical rates. On $60K, that means targeting homes under $210,000. Augusta offers a median home at $173,222 — a 2.9× ratio with room to spare.
Bottom line: Augusta 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.
#1 Ranked: Augusta — cost index 77, rent $1,321/mo, income $53,134
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
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 and homes at $173,222 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
156,512 residents · Georgia
A closer look at Macon: the cost index of 70 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — 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.
510,823 residents · Georgia
Atlanta is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,888/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 110. Income sits at $81,938. That's more or less in line with the region.
147,748 residents · Georgia
What does daily life actually cost in Savannah? Start with the 37% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 100) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 101) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $56,782 and homes at $322,470 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
128,628 residents · Georgia
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, Healthcare (index 100) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 100) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $51,655 and homes at $332,919 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Augusta | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $39,410 |
2Macon | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $39,410 |
3Atlanta | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $39,410 |
4Savannah | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $39,410 |
5Athens | 5.49% | 7.38% | 0.83% | $39,410 |
Augusta ranks #1 in Georgia for this analysis with a cost index of 77 and median income of $53,134.
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.
Augusta (ranked #1) has a cost index of 77 and rent of $1,321/mo, while Athens (ranked #5) has a cost index of 100 and rent of $1,720/mo — a 23-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 Augusta is $1,321/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $574 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Augusta is $173,222, 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.