The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia In 2024


The most affordable places to live in Georgia for 2024 are Waynesboro, Swainsboro, and Americus according to Saturday Night Science.

You’re in luck if you’re searching for the most affordable places in Georgia.

To spot exactly where you’ll find the cheapest places to live the Peach State, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze Census data on home prices, rents, and incomes. It turns out this Southern state is full of peaches, boiled peanuts, and cheap places to live.

With cities like Savannah and Atlanta offering a lower cost of living than bigger coastal cities you dont sacrafice on quality of life for quality of wallet. You’ll find plenty of cheap things to do, like the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon or the Atlanta Jazz Festival.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary


The 10 most affordable places to live in Georgia

  1. Waynesboro
  2. Swainsboro
  3. Americus
  4. LaFayette
  5. Camilla
  6. Fort Valley
  7. Thomson
  8. Eastman
  9. Sylvester
  10. Moultrie

Most Affordable Cities In Georgia Map

What is the cheapest place to live in Georgia? The cheapest place to live in Georgia for 2024 is Waynesboro based on affordability metrics.

If you want to live near all the action in Georgia, it turns out you can do that on the cheap. Most of the cheapest places in Georgia are in the surrounding regions of Atlanta and Savannah.

Check out some more reading about Georgia and the cheapest places in the country:

The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia For 2024

Waynesboro, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Blastoids | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,720
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 75
Median Income: $41,932
Median Home Price: $149,567
Median Rent: $724

Waynesboro makes onto the list of affordable cities in Georgia. With a median home value of $149,567 and a median rent of $724, the cost of living is quite low compared to other cities in Georgia. The overall cost of living in Waynesboro is also 20% lower than the national average, making it an ideal location for budget-conscious individuals and families.

Despite its affordability, Waynesboro still offers a high quality of life. The city has easy access to nearby amenities, including the Augusta metropolitan area.

More on Waynesboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Swainsboro, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Jud McCranie | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 7,542
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 76
Median Income: $44,491
Median Home Price: $106,598
Median Rent: $767

In Georgia’s Emanuel County, you’ll find Swainsboro, the second most affordable city in Georgia. It ranks well thanks to its low 76 cost of living index, 17.4% lower than the state average.

The big driver in the cost of living across Georgia is home prices, and Swainsboro has an average home price you’ll swoon over – $106,598. Those prices leave more in your pocket for a weekend trip to Augusta or Savannah.

More on Swainsboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Americus, GA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 16,020
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $36,498
Median Home Price: $110,914
Median Rent: $806

Americus, home to a population of 16,020, ranks as the third cheapest place to live in the Peach State. With a median home value of $110,914, buying here is considerably cheaper than in the rest of Georgia.

In the heart of Sumter County, the city’s cost of living index of 79 ensures residents enjoy a budget filled with extra peaches, pimento cheese, and boiled peanuts.

More on Americus: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Lafayette, GA

Source: Wikipedia User PrometheusX303 at English Wikipedia | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 6,929
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $30,284
Median Home Price: $157,051
Median Rent: $751

LaFayette, part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan area, is an affordable gem. With an 79 overall cost of living index, the city ranks fourth in Georgia.

LaFayette is a great small town with low-cost attractions such as Pettyjohn Cave and Joe Stock Memorial Park. That means you can save more of your $30,284 average income.

More on Lafayette: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Camilla, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Rivera | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 5,163
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 79
Median Income: $27,306
Median Home Price: $128,968
Median Rent: $733

Next up comes Camilla, Georgia. Although this town comes last on our list, don’t underestimate its affordability. You can rent apartments for under $400 a month in Camilla. Is that possible where you live now? We didn’t think so.

Camilla is also home to famous NFL player Danny Copeland of the Washington Redskins.

More on Camilla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Fort Valley, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 8,821
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $31,807
Median Home Price: $140,206
Median Rent: $703

Next on our list is Fort Valley, a city In the middle of Peach County. A median rent of $703 won’t break the bank, allowing its 8,821 residents more to enjoy the perks of budget-friendly living.

A 30-minute drive to Warner Robins, Fort Valley’s cost of living is 12 points better than the state average. You’ll spend less on groceries and utilities and more on weekend trips to downtown Macon.

More on Fort Valley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Review Of Fort Valley by HomeSnacks User

I lived in fort valley for almost 20yrs. Crime in these small farming towns- Good one… LOL

I’d rather walk through any of these small towns at night compared to Macon, ATL, Albany and Columbus.

Thomson, GA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 6,839
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $42,793
Median Home Price: $168,618
Median Rent: $903

Forty-five miles west of Augusta, you’ll crash into the next place on our list, Thomson. The son of Thom ranks as the seventh cheapest in Georgia.

The city of 6,839 people hosts many affordable events to keep your wallet in check. Those events include the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival and Bethe lle Meade Hunt Opening Meet. Or take a free hike in Clarks Hill Lake.

More on Thomson: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Eastman, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Rivera | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 5,635
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $41,213
Median Home Price: $130,583
Median Rent: $726

The eighth most affordable city in Georgia is Eastman, Georgia. When you are looking for the most affordable place in Georgia, look no further because Eastman easily takes the cake on this one. Located an hour outside of Macon, Eastman is perfect families looking for a small town vibe with a larger urban center nearby for weekend trips. Plus, Eastman is cheap.

What else could you ask for?

More on Eastman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Review Of Eastman by HomeSnacks User

Take a city like Eastman.. 20 years ago lots of people there carpooled to work at Robins AFB.. There was a shirt factory and the Lithonia Lighting Factory in Eastman employed people. Plus people did a lot of farming all over South GA. Lithonia has since closed its doors, folks were paid to plant pine trees instead of farming and probably most of the folks who worked at Robins are retired. It is sad to see the decline of so many cities in our state.

Sylvester, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Rivera | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,622
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $48,599
Median Home Price: $138,016
Median Rent: $819

If you’re looking for an affordable place to live in Georgia, you may want to consider Sylvester. With a median home value of $138,016 and median rent of $819, this city offers reasonable housing prices that won’t break the bank. Additionally, the cost of living in Sylvester is low, with a score of 80.

Sylvester also has plenty to offer its residents. As the Peanut Capital of the World, it’s known for its peanut production and hosts an annual Peanut Festival. The city also boasts a charming downtown area with locally-owned shops and restaurants.

More on Sylvester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Moultrie, GA

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Rivera | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 14,533
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $41,228
Median Home Price: $124,960
Median Rent: $716

The tenth most affordable city in Georgia is Moultrie. Housing is a bargain with $124,960 median home prices below the state median and $716 median rent.

A long weekend trip to Tallahassee, Moultrie has a low 81 overall cost of living index, which is 12.0% lower than the Georgian average.

More on Moultrie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cheapest places to live in Georgia FAQs

The county in Georgia with the lowest cost of living is Appling County. The average living wage in Appling County is $76,261 according to MIT data. Appling County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Georgia as a whole. Childcare costs $9,594 a year in Appling County for two children compared to the Georgia average of $13,033. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $7,776 per year in Appling County compared to $12,094 on average in Georgia.

The cost of living in Georgia is 5.2% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Georgia is $85,101 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Georgia household is $61,224.

The cheapest housing market in Georgia is Waycross. The average home value in Waycross is $71,700, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Georgia is $190,200, almost 2.7 times higher than Waycross.

Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Peach State for 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
Determining affordability for places in Georgia boils down to how much it costs to live here.

You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.

With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 for Georgia using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:

  • Housing
  • Transportation
  • Services
  • Groceries
  • Healthcare
  • Utilities

These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.

We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Georgia to figure out which is the least expensive.

The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 124 places in Georgia that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.

The place in Georgia with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Waynesboro.

We updated this article for 2024. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Georgia.

Georgia Affordabilility Summary

This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Georgia for 2024, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Georgia.

The cheapest cities in Georgia are Waynesboro, Swainsboro, Americus, LaFayette, Camilla, Fort Valley, Thomson, Eastman, Sylvester, and Moultrie.

Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Georgia according to the data:

  1. Milton
  2. Sandy Springs
  3. Brookhaven

For more Georgia reading, check out:

Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia

Rank City Population Cost Of Living Index Median Income Home Prices Rent
1 Waynesboro 5,720 75 $41,932 $149,567 $724
2 Swainsboro 7,542 76 $44,491 $106,598 $767
3 Americus 16,020 79 $36,498 $110,914 $806
4 LaFayette 6,929 79 $30,284 $157,051 $751
5 Camilla 5,163 79 $27,306 $128,968 $733
6 Fort Valley 8,821 80 $31,807 $140,206 $703
7 Thomson 6,839 80 $42,793 $168,618 $903
8 Eastman 5,635 80 $41,213 $130,583 $726
9 Sylvester 5,622 80 $48,599 $138,016 $819
10 Moultrie 14,533 81 $41,228 $124,960 $716
11 Waycross 13,856 81 $36,818 $119,877 $766
12 Cordele 10,210 81 $33,166 $124,602 $756
13 Cedartown 10,166 81 $30,655 $182,273 $801
14 Fitzgerald 8,972 81 $32,500 $109,147 $631
15 Sandersville 5,727 81 $45,502 $125,457 $635
16 Albany 68,926 82 $43,724 $120,704 $889
17 Statesboro 33,185 82 $38,845 $241,680 $895
18 Eatonton 6,369 82 $53,870 $384,922 $821
19 Blakely 5,299 82 $43,008 $116,893 $876
20 Milledgeville 17,021 83 $40,672 $186,766 $840
21 Brunswick 15,243 83 $29,781 $227,011 $838
22 Vidalia 10,732 83 $47,124 $169,711 $641
23 Temple 5,395 83 $71,917 $278,708 $1,214
24 Dalton 34,358 84 $57,163 $220,313 $866
25 Dublin 15,985 84 $37,734 $172,018 $694
26 Austell 8,109 84 $64,071 $295,883 $1,443
27 Adel 5,571 84 $26,800 $147,659 $886
28 Forest Park 19,619 85 $41,837 $177,768 $1,042
29 Riverdale 14,933 85 $61,622 $236,180 $1,154
30 Jesup 9,820 85 $53,096 $176,163 $762
31 Thomaston 9,720 85 $30,298 $160,205 $773
32 Barnesville 6,200 85 $46,116 $189,049 $896
33 Villa Rica 17,354 86 $82,373 $312,462 $1,296
34 Douglas 11,694 86 $39,716 $152,646 $717
35 Garden City 10,352 86 $46,063 $212,631 $1,046
36 Fort Oglethorpe 10,203 86 $49,789 $226,881 $884
37 Cairo 10,091 86 $39,784 $158,232 $791
38 Toccoa 9,055 86 $49,860 $200,804 $821
39 Stone Mountain 6,638 86 $44,950 $281,949 $1,356
40 Rome 37,621 87 $48,512 $208,496 $851
41 Perry 21,279 87 $68,507 $242,812 $1,009
42 Calhoun 17,184 87 $54,927 $252,141 $746
43 Tifton 17,059 87 $42,200 $183,657 $765
44 Grovetown 16,049 87 $67,222 $287,518 $1,301
45 Clarkston 14,553 87 $51,122 $273,169 $1,227
46 Bainbridge 14,234 87 $42,093 $158,360 $767
47 Jackson 5,497 87 $43,824 $279,727 $826
48 Warner Robins 80,374 88 $63,678 $194,094 $1,094
49 Union City 26,869 88 $46,696 $247,142 $1,186
50 Carrollton 26,622 88 $46,722 $269,476 $972
51 Thomasville 18,744 88 $45,789 $203,661 $1,008
52 Monroe 15,036 88 $45,307 $342,225 $1,100
53 Dallas 14,126 88 $60,032 $346,508 $1,245
54 Lovejoy 10,429 88 $59,184 $287,995 $1,522
55 Griffin 23,485 89 $42,047 $236,940 $1,026
56 Cartersville 23,103 89 $75,407 $304,822 $1,096
57 Commerce 7,391 89 $58,763 $296,250 $1,107
58 Bremen 7,209 89 $88,545 $263,114 $808
59 Hapeville 6,566 89 $62,117 $273,382 $1,293
60 Morrow 6,563 89 $64,890 $227,622 $1,225
61 Valdosta 55,266 90 $41,365 $182,356 $932
62 East Point 38,113 90 $59,602 $262,257 $1,241
63 LaGrange 31,173 90 $41,030 $192,745 $962
64 Fairburn 16,469 90 $67,245 $331,795 $1,428
65 Savannah 147,583 91 $54,748 $296,777 $1,216
66 Hinesville 34,732 91 $54,447 $217,324 $1,147
67 Winder 18,414 91 $57,365 $326,583 $1,072
68 Covington 14,190 91 $47,278 $292,367 $1,153
69 Locust Grove 9,367 91 $67,143 $329,824 $1,252
70 Centerville 8,220 91 $74,250 $209,922 $1,182
71 Auburn 7,794 91 $77,896 $334,190 $1,056
72 Gainesville 42,780 92 $64,163 $349,432 $1,167
73 Newnan 42,689 92 $74,606 $356,203 $1,304
74 Douglasville 35,252 92 $72,753 $307,358 $1,344
75 Acworth 22,318 92 $74,643 $400,640 $1,419
76 Kingsland 18,563 92 $73,839 $277,021 $1,125
77 Conyers 17,415 92 $53,500 $303,333 $1,163
78 Powder Springs 16,930 92 $88,311 $358,104 $1,673
79 Hampton 8,244 92 $67,808 $330,762 $1,243
80 Columbus 204,572 93 $54,561 $151,024 $1,038
81 College Park 14,113 93 $47,706 $292,210 $1,047
82 Kennesaw 33,360 94 $81,467 $401,282 $1,673
83 Lawrenceville 30,465 94 $55,608 $374,957 $1,341
84 St. Marys 18,507 94 $68,199 $288,009 $1,178
85 Buford 17,222 94 $68,165 $468,970 $1,147
86 Port Wentworth 11,103 94 $61,409 $269,354 $1,465
87 Byron 5,687 94 $83,996 $247,988 $814
88 McDonough 29,134 95 $77,804 $347,529 $1,441
89 Jefferson 13,496 95 $95,850 $376,132 $1,059
90 Stockbridge 28,858 96 $72,175 $298,450 $1,356
91 Norcross 17,530 96 $74,921 $314,441 $1,580
92 Doraville 10,691 96 $59,636 $352,077 $1,528
93 Canton 33,499 97 $75,414 $478,892 $1,460
94 Snellville 20,895 97 $88,586 $350,856 $1,840
95 Lilburn 14,741 97 $61,347 $385,612 $1,464
96 Pooler 26,264 99 $89,812 $340,383 $1,550
97 Sugar Hill 24,947 99 $94,520 $443,468 $1,497
98 Loganville 14,287 99 $77,750 $382,369 $1,448
99 Dacula 6,906 99 $81,322 $445,387 $1,285
100 Flowery Branch 9,700 100 $93,684 $413,457 $1,448
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.