Cost of Living in Georgia Cities: These Are the Top 5

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Georgia has a lot to offer and is one of the most suitable places to live in the South.

It is the 24th-largest in the Southeastern region and the 8th-most populous of the 50 United States.

This state is known as the Peach State and is home to more than 10 million people.

In other words, Georgia is the perfect place for young college students to build their careers, young couples to feel romantic getaways, and parents to raise their children safely.

Here are some of the best reasons you should move to Georgia immediately: safe neighborhoods and affordable housing; fresh food everywhere; great weather most of the time; possibilities for modern education, and beautiful nature and lakes.

Keep reading this post, and you will find out everything about the cost of living in Georgia, and even more, the top five cities that are the most expensive in this state.

Cost of Living in Georgia

From Atlanta to Savannah, this state has it all: mountains, beaches, small towns in the mountains, big cities, and even some beautiful islands off its east coast. It is a perfect place to live.

But, the main question here is, can you afford to live in this state?

Living in this state is definitely, less expensive than it is on average across the U.S. as a whole.

Compared with all other U.S states, Georgia has the 24th lowest overall cost of living.

Housing and Utilities

When we speak about the cost’s living, we have to start with one of the notable factors of living costs – housing and utilities.

In Georgia, the regular home is worth $166,800, which is $38,100 less than the national average home value of $204,900.

The typical renter in Georgia spends $968 a month on housing, $55 less than the $1,023 national average monthly rent.

The monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the state is $848, while rent for an apartment with five or more bedrooms is $1,586.

But, we have to say that the lower-cost housing in Georgia is principally found outside the metro area or in areas with low income.

If you want to live in the city center, you need to pay a lot more money to rent a home.

For instance, living in the Metro Atlanta area, housing averages are around $250,000 or more.

Utilities in Georgia are a bit higher than the national average, about 3% higher than the rest of the United States.

That is because, in hot summer, the soaring temperatures will ought you use the a/c almost constantly.

The average monthly utility bill in Georgia is $126.38.

Transportation Costs

In Georgia, 89.2% of commuters drive to work, compared to 85.5% of commuters nationwide.

Generally, gas prices are lower than the national average.

In fact, Georgia is the state with the 15th lowest gas prices.

As a result of that, unfortunately, that is quickly overcome by car insurance.

So, if you want to have car insurance in Georgia, you have to pay $148 or much more per month.

Food Costs

Further, food prices can also be a significant component of the cost of living.

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the cost of food varies from state to state.

That is because of many reasons, such as population, geographic location, etc.

In Georgia, a single adult spends an average of $3,156 on food annually, and a family of four spends $9,115 on average.

For context, the nationwide average annual food expenditure is $3,240 for a single adult and $9,354 for a family of four.

The Top Five Expensive Cities in This State

Just as the cost of living varies from state to state, it varies from place to place within states.

Here are the five most expensive places to live in Georgia.

Thomasville

Thomasville is a city full of rich history, passion for food, specialty shops, and natural beauty.

However, the most expensive things in this city are food, housing, and childcare.

For example, a small bottle of water is $2.15, and a gallon of milk in supermarkets is $3.90.

Furthermore, a loaf of bread is $3.19, a dozen eggs are $3.21, and a pound of bananas is $2.78.

The average home value in Thomasville is $163,500, which is really a high price.

About childcare, the average cost of childcare full-time, per month, is $810.

College Park

This city is definitely, the best place to live, as evidenced by the 100,000 new citizens that move here every year.

But, the average cost of living in College Park is $2012, which is in the top 5% of the most expensive cities in the world.

The cost of living for one person without rent is $661, while only rent and utilities for one person in this city are $1351.

Dinner in a restaurant for two people is about $44.6.

On top of that, in College Park, the average cost of childcare per month is incredibly $1201.

Dahlonega

If you are thinking about moving to this city, then you have to know the costs for housing, healthcare, and utilities on monthly basics.

The average home value in Dahlonega is $285,700, which is a very high price compared to other cities in Georgia.

As for healthcare, the average cost is $106.7, $10 more than in Georgia.

Utilities on monthly basics are $102.

Chamblee

This city seems to be the most expensive place for living in Georgia.

The average cost of living in Chamblee is $1785, which is in the top 16% of the most expensive cities in the world.

The cost of living in Chamblee is 34% higher than the state average and 27% higher than the national average.

Although healthcare is lower than Georgia averages, you can expect to pay more for food, utilities, local transportation, and your housing costs.

The average price of a home in Chamblee is $430,000, while the average cost of rent in Chamblee is $1,362 per month.

The homeownership rate in Chamblee is 37%, making it much less common for people living in the area to purchase their houses.

For one doctor visit in this city, you will pay about $140.

Food is another everyday expense of living in an area.

One hamburger can cost you $5.32, while chicken (2 pcs) is $3.76.

A loaf of bread in the local supermarket is $4.9.

Atlanta

Atlanta, located in north-central Georgia, is the most populous city in Georgia.

The average cost of living in this city is $1919, which is in the top 6% of the most expensive cities in the world.

About housing, the average home value is $290,400.

A monthly pass for public transportation (for residents) is $105.

And, in the end, have a look at some of the healthcare costs in Atlanta.

The average price of a doctor’s appointment is $139, while the average price of a dental appointment is $122.24.

The average price of prescription medication is $484.

If you have a pet, you need to know that the average price of a veterinary appointment is $59.50.

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