Georgia Housing & Living Wage Index

Georgia Cost of Living & Rents (2026)

Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, and composite living cost indices across all 26 benchmark metropolitan areas in Georgia.

Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget · Methodology

Composite COL Index 107.2 US Benchmark = 100.0
Average 1BR Rent $1,068 HUD Fair Market Rent
Single Living Wage $23.72/hr EPI Living Wage Standard
Family Living Wage $20.11/hr 2 Adults + 1 Child

Metropolitan Areas in Georgia

Metro AreaCOL IndexHUD 1BR RentHUD 2BR RentLiving WageReport
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 140.3 $1,619/mo $1,762/mo $31.03/hr View
Savannah, GA 125.5 $1,542/mo $1,679/mo $27.76/hr View
Hinesville, GA 117.7 $1,228/mo $1,396/mo $26.02/hr View
Gainesville, GA 117.1 $1,417/mo $1,543/mo $25.89/hr View
Morgan County, GA 114.6 $1,219/mo $1,327/mo $25.35/hr View
Athens-Clarke County, GA 112.9 $1,103/mo $1,285/mo $24.96/hr View
Butts County, GA 110.9 $920/mo $1,002/mo $24.54/hr View
Warner Robins, GA 110.7 $1,248/mo $1,396/mo $24.49/hr View
Long County, GA 107.7 $1,067/mo $1,163/mo $23.82/hr View
Lumpkin County, GA 107.4 $1,055/mo $1,148/mo $23.75/hr View
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA 107.3 $1,114/mo $1,378/mo $23.73/hr View
Macon-Bibb County, GA 106.8 $1,162/mo $1,309/mo $23.61/hr View
Monroe County, GA 105.6 $1,057/mo $1,151/mo $23.34/hr View
Columbus, GA-AL 103.0 $1,053/mo $1,212/mo $22.79/hr View
Albany, GA 102.9 $972/mo $1,103/mo $22.75/hr View
Talbot County, GA 102.6 $875/mo $1,002/mo $22.70/hr View
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 102.2 $1,202/mo $1,329/mo $22.61/hr View
Meriwether County, GA 102.2 $766/mo $1,002/mo $22.60/hr View
Valdosta, GA 101.3 $904/mo $1,179/mo $22.39/hr View
Stewart County, GA 101.2 $875/mo $1,002/mo $22.37/hr View
Haralson County, GA 101.0 $782/mo $1,023/mo $22.34/hr View
Peach County, GA 98.8 $1,027/mo $1,118/mo $21.85/hr View
Rome, GA 98.5 $972/mo $1,204/mo $21.79/hr View
Dalton, GA 97.4 $1,009/mo $1,127/mo $21.55/hr View
Lincoln County, GA 96.8 $784/mo $1,026/mo $21.40/hr View
Murray County, GA 96.0 $784/mo $1,006/mo $21.24/hr View
Tax & Take-Home Pay

Georgia Paycheck Calculator

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Wages & Earnings

Georgia Salary Directory

Explore BLS wage percentiles by occupation in Georgia.

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Georgia Cost of Living & Rents (2026) Overview

Comprehensive 2026 cost of living analysis for Georgia. Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, state income tax impact, and metropolitan living costs. Official 2026 economic data for Georgia compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
Is Georgia an expensive state to live in?

Its metros average a cost-of-living index of 107.2 (U.S. = 100), from EPI family budgets. Average one-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent across its metros is about $1,068 a month.

What is the living wage in Georgia?

The average living wage for a single adult in Georgia is approximately $23.72/hour, while a family with two adults and one child requires roughly $20.11/hour to cover basic necessities.