To live in Georgia’smost expensive places, you’re going to need a couple things to fall into place: a heavy piggy bank, a job that pays the big bucks, and a list of the top ten most expensive places in Georgia for 2024.
Yes, since you can’t pay for the Empire State of the South’s crazy expensive cost of living in homegrown Georgia peaches and peanuts, you’re going to need a job that pays $57,941/year. To get that heavy piggy bank, you’re going to want to commit to one of Georgia’s highest paying jobs: we recommend healthcare, law, or finance. And if that doesn’t work, there are currently 17 Fortune 500 companies and 26 Fortune 1000 companies that include Home Depot, Coca-Cola, and Alfac. More importantly, to get a list of the top ten most expensive places in the Peach State, we recommend that you take a look at HomeSnacks’ list below.
Incidentally, if you choose one of Georgia’s most expensive places to live, you could find yourself living next to famous Georgia faces like the Cincinnati Bengals player Brandon Thompson who hails from one of the state’s most expensive places, Thomasville and the Weather Channel’s Mike Bettes who hails from Sandy Springs.
Want to know more? Grab a slice of peach pie from the in Pooler, find a sunny spot on the beach in Savannah and keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Georgia For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Georgia? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Milton is the most expensive place to live in Georgia.
Waynesboro (the cheapest place to live in Georgia) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Georgia and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Georgia For 2024
/10
Population: 41,029
Cost Of Living Index: 137
Median Income: $142,845
Average Home Price: $866,981
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.1x
More on Milton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Milton is 137. The median income in Milton comes in at $142,845 and the average home value is $866,981 for 2024.
/10
Population: 107,221
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $93,303
Average Home Price: $636,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.8x
More on Sandy Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Sandy Springs is 130. The median income in Sandy Springs comes in at $93,303 and the average home value is $636,700 for 2024.
/10
Population: 56,848
Cost Of Living Index: 126
Median Income: $114,570
Average Home Price: $677,272
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.9x
More on Brookhaven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Brookhaven is 126. The median income in Brookhaven comes in at $114,570 and the average home value is $677,272 for 2024.
/10
Population: 51,458
Cost Of Living Index: 124
Median Income: $106,710
Average Home Price: $623,116
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.8x
More on Dunwoody: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Dunwoody is 124. The median income in Dunwoody comes in at $106,710 and the average home value is $623,116 for 2024.
/10
Population: 82,230
Cost Of Living Index: 123
Median Income: $153,882
Average Home Price: $658,732
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Johns Creek: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Johns Creek is 123. The median income in Johns Creek comes in at $153,882 and the average home value is $658,732 for 2024.
/10
Population: 24,421
Cost Of Living Index: 122
Median Income: $129,992
Average Home Price: $309,943
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.4x
More on Decatur: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Decatur is 122. The median income in Decatur comes in at $129,992 and the average home value is $309,943 for 2024.
/10
Population: 65,884
Cost Of Living Index: 119
Median Income: $141,402
Average Home Price: $671,145
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Alpharetta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Alpharetta is 119. The median income in Alpharetta comes in at $141,402 and the average home value is $671,145 for 2024.
/10
Population: 7,083
Cost Of Living Index: 119
Median Income: $57,941
Average Home Price: $344,023
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.9x
More on Dahlonega: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Dahlonega is 119. The median income in Dahlonega comes in at $57,941 and the average home value is $344,023 for 2024.
/10
Population: 92,770
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $122,924
Average Home Price: $610,721
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Roswell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Roswell is 117. The median income in Roswell comes in at $122,924 and the average home value is $610,721 for 2024.
/10
Population: 13,804
Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $111,080
Average Home Price: $436,475
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Braselton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Braselton is 113. The median income in Braselton comes in at $111,080 and the average home value is $436,475 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Peach State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Georgia are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Georgia to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 124 places in Georgia that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Georgia according to the data is Milton. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Georgia.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Georgia For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Georgia that have the highest cost of living, with Milton ranking as the most expensive city in the Peach State.
The most expensive cities in Georgia are Milton, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Decatur, Alpharetta, Dahlonega, Roswell, and Braselton.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Georgia according to the data:
- Waynesboro
- Swainsboro
- Camilla
For more Georgia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Georgia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
- Most Dangerous Places In Georgia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia
- Safest Places In Georgia
- Worst Places To Live In Georgia
Most Expensive Cities In Georgia
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milton | 137 | 41,029 | $142,845 | $866,981 | 6.1x |
| 2 | Sandy Springs | 130 | 107,221 | $93,303 | $636,700 | 6.8x |
| 3 | Brookhaven | 126 | 56,848 | $114,570 | $677,272 | 5.9x |
| 4 | Dunwoody | 124 | 51,458 | $106,710 | $623,116 | 5.8x |
| 5 | Johns Creek | 123 | 82,230 | $153,882 | $658,732 | 4.3x |
| 6 | Decatur | 122 | 24,421 | $129,992 | $309,943 | 2.4x |
| 7 | Alpharetta | 119 | 65,884 | $141,402 | $671,145 | 4.7x |
| 8 | Dahlonega | 119 | 7,083 | $57,941 | $344,023 | 5.9x |
| 9 | Roswell | 117 | 92,770 | $122,924 | $610,721 | 5.0x |
| 10 | Braselton | 113 | 13,804 | $111,080 | $436,475 | 3.9x |
| 11 | Peachtree City | 112 | 38,414 | $111,850 | $519,848 | 4.6x |
| 12 | Suwanee | 111 | 21,238 | $100,780 | $578,726 | 5.7x |
| 13 | Peachtree Corners | 110 | 42,147 | $74,716 | $521,450 | 7.0x |
| 14 | Atlanta | 106 | 494,838 | $77,655 | $379,030 | 4.9x |
| 15 | Smyrna | 106 | 55,863 | $92,258 | $448,692 | 4.9x |
| 16 | Chamblee | 106 | 29,980 | $76,682 | $457,676 | 6.0x |
| 17 | Marietta | 105 | 61,387 | $67,589 | $452,424 | 6.7x |
| 18 | Woodstock | 104 | 35,171 | $100,913 | $434,309 | 4.3x |
| 19 | Holly Springs | 104 | 16,675 | $108,332 | $411,079 | 3.8x |
| 20 | Duluth | 103 | 31,742 | $88,915 | $418,705 | 4.7x |
| 21 | Fayetteville | 101 | 19,010 | $79,865 | $410,964 | 5.1x |
| 22 | Richmond Hill | 101 | 16,703 | $83,519 | $394,939 | 4.7x |
| 23 | Flowery Branch | 100 | 9,700 | $93,684 | $413,457 | 4.4x |
| 24 | Tyrone | 100 | 7,710 | $112,898 | $479,618 | 4.2x |
| 25 | Cumming | 100 | 7,371 | $71,855 | $574,758 | 8.0x |
| 26 | Pooler | 99 | 26,264 | $89,812 | $340,383 | 3.8x |
| 27 | Sugar Hill | 99 | 24,947 | $94,520 | $443,468 | 4.7x |
| 28 | Loganville | 99 | 14,287 | $77,750 | $382,369 | 4.9x |
| 29 | Dacula | 99 | 6,906 | $81,322 | $445,387 | 5.5x |
| 30 | Canton | 97 | 33,499 | $75,414 | $478,892 | 6.4x |
| 31 | Snellville | 97 | 20,895 | $88,586 | $350,856 | 4.0x |
| 32 | Lilburn | 97 | 14,741 | $61,347 | $385,612 | 6.3x |
| 33 | Stockbridge | 96 | 28,858 | $72,175 | $298,450 | 4.1x |
| 34 | Norcross | 96 | 17,530 | $74,921 | $314,441 | 4.2x |
| 35 | Doraville | 96 | 10,691 | $59,636 | $352,077 | 5.9x |
| 36 | McDonough | 95 | 29,134 | $77,804 | $347,529 | 4.5x |
| 37 | Jefferson | 95 | 13,496 | $95,850 | $376,132 | 3.9x |
| 38 | Kennesaw | 94 | 33,360 | $81,467 | $401,282 | 4.9x |
| 39 | Lawrenceville | 94 | 30,465 | $55,608 | $374,957 | 6.7x |
| 40 | St. Marys | 94 | 18,507 | $68,199 | $288,009 | 4.2x |
| 41 | Buford | 94 | 17,222 | $68,165 | $468,970 | 6.9x |
| 42 | Port Wentworth | 94 | 11,103 | $61,409 | $269,354 | 4.4x |
| 43 | Byron | 94 | 5,687 | $83,996 | $247,988 | 3.0x |
| 44 | Columbus | 93 | 204,572 | $54,561 | $151,024 | 2.8x |
| 45 | College Park | 93 | 14,113 | $47,706 | $292,210 | 6.1x |
| 46 | Gainesville | 92 | 42,780 | $64,163 | $349,432 | 5.4x |
| 47 | Newnan | 92 | 42,689 | $74,606 | $356,203 | 4.8x |
| 48 | Douglasville | 92 | 35,252 | $72,753 | $307,358 | 4.2x |
| 49 | Acworth | 92 | 22,318 | $74,643 | $400,640 | 5.4x |
| 50 | Kingsland | 92 | 18,563 | $73,839 | $277,021 | 3.8x |
| 51 | Conyers | 92 | 17,415 | $53,500 | $303,333 | 5.7x |
| 52 | Powder Springs | 92 | 16,930 | $88,311 | $358,104 | 4.1x |
| 53 | Hampton | 92 | 8,244 | $67,808 | $330,762 | 4.9x |
| 54 | Savannah | 91 | 147,583 | $54,748 | $296,777 | 5.4x |
| 55 | Hinesville | 91 | 34,732 | $54,447 | $217,324 | 4.0x |
| 56 | Winder | 91 | 18,414 | $57,365 | $326,583 | 5.7x |
| 57 | Covington | 91 | 14,190 | $47,278 | $292,367 | 6.2x |
| 58 | Locust Grove | 91 | 9,367 | $67,143 | $329,824 | 4.9x |
| 59 | Centerville | 91 | 8,220 | $74,250 | $209,922 | 2.8x |
| 60 | Auburn | 91 | 7,794 | $77,896 | $334,190 | 4.3x |
| 61 | Valdosta | 90 | 55,266 | $41,365 | $182,356 | 4.4x |
| 62 | East Point | 90 | 38,113 | $59,602 | $262,257 | 4.4x |
| 63 | LaGrange | 90 | 31,173 | $41,030 | $192,745 | 4.7x |
| 64 | Fairburn | 90 | 16,469 | $67,245 | $331,795 | 4.9x |
| 65 | Griffin | 89 | 23,485 | $42,047 | $236,940 | 5.6x |
| 66 | Cartersville | 89 | 23,103 | $75,407 | $304,822 | 4.0x |
| 67 | Commerce | 89 | 7,391 | $58,763 | $296,250 | 5.0x |
| 68 | Bremen | 89 | 7,209 | $88,545 | $263,114 | 3.0x |
| 69 | Hapeville | 89 | 6,566 | $62,117 | $273,382 | 4.4x |
| 70 | Morrow | 89 | 6,563 | $64,890 | $227,622 | 3.5x |
| 71 | Warner Robins | 88 | 80,374 | $63,678 | $194,094 | 3.0x |
| 72 | Union City | 88 | 26,869 | $46,696 | $247,142 | 5.3x |
| 73 | Carrollton | 88 | 26,622 | $46,722 | $269,476 | 5.8x |
| 74 | Thomasville | 88 | 18,744 | $45,789 | $203,661 | 4.4x |
| 75 | Monroe | 88 | 15,036 | $45,307 | $342,225 | 7.6x |
| 76 | Dallas | 88 | 14,126 | $60,032 | $346,508 | 5.8x |
| 77 | Lovejoy | 88 | 10,429 | $59,184 | $287,995 | 4.9x |
| 78 | Rome | 87 | 37,621 | $48,512 | $208,496 | 4.3x |
| 79 | Perry | 87 | 21,279 | $68,507 | $242,812 | 3.5x |
| 80 | Calhoun | 87 | 17,184 | $54,927 | $252,141 | 4.6x |
| 81 | Tifton | 87 | 17,059 | $42,200 | $183,657 | 4.4x |
| 82 | Grovetown | 87 | 16,049 | $67,222 | $287,518 | 4.3x |
| 83 | Clarkston | 87 | 14,553 | $51,122 | $273,169 | 5.3x |
| 84 | Bainbridge | 87 | 14,234 | $42,093 | $158,360 | 3.8x |
| 85 | Jackson | 87 | 5,497 | $43,824 | $279,727 | 6.4x |
| 86 | Villa Rica | 86 | 17,354 | $82,373 | $312,462 | 3.8x |
| 87 | Douglas | 86 | 11,694 | $39,716 | $152,646 | 3.8x |
| 88 | Garden City | 86 | 10,352 | $46,063 | $212,631 | 4.6x |
| 89 | Fort Oglethorpe | 86 | 10,203 | $49,789 | $226,881 | 4.6x |
| 90 | Cairo | 86 | 10,091 | $39,784 | $158,232 | 4.0x |
| 91 | Toccoa | 86 | 9,055 | $49,860 | $200,804 | 4.0x |
| 92 | Stone Mountain | 86 | 6,638 | $44,950 | $281,949 | 6.3x |
| 93 | Forest Park | 85 | 19,619 | $41,837 | $177,768 | 4.2x |
| 94 | Riverdale | 85 | 14,933 | $61,622 | $236,180 | 3.8x |
| 95 | Jesup | 85 | 9,820 | $53,096 | $176,163 | 3.3x |
| 96 | Thomaston | 85 | 9,720 | $30,298 | $160,205 | 5.3x |
| 97 | Barnesville | 85 | 6,200 | $46,116 | $189,049 | 4.1x |
| 98 | Dalton | 84 | 34,358 | $57,163 | $220,313 | 3.9x |
| 99 | Dublin | 84 | 15,985 | $37,734 | $172,018 | 4.6x |
| 100 | Austell | 84 | 8,109 | $64,071 | $295,883 | 4.6x |