What is the cost of living in Gainesville, GA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gainesville has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Georgia, Gainesville has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Georgia's index of 95.
The standard of living in Gainesville ranks as #101 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in Georgia. By definition, that implies Gainesville ranks as the #56 most expensive place in the Peach State.
For more reading on life in Gainesville, check out:
Gainesville Cost Of Living Vs. Georgia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gainesville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gainesville is 101.
The Groceries index in Gainesville is 97.
The Health index in Gainesville is 122.
The Housing index in Gainesville is 100.
The Transportation index in Gainesville is 101.
The Utilities index in Gainesville is 97.
| Living Expense | Gainesville | Georgia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 122 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Gainesville Cost Of Living Compared To Georgia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Georgia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Gainesville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gainesville, GA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Georgia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Gainesville is $373,267.
The Median Rent in Gainesville is $1,299.
The Median Income in Gainesville is $66,974.
The Home Value To Income in Gainesville is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gainesville is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Gainesville | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $373,267 | $332,063 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,299 | $1,393 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,974 | $77,353 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.22x | 0.21x |
Gainesville, GA Costs By Category
Detailed Gainesville Services costs vs. Georgia
| Item | Gainesville | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.35 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.26 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.87 | $18 |
| Haircut | $17.24 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.47 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gainesville Groceries costs vs. Georgia
| Item | Gainesville | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.62 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.21 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.31 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.78 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gainesville Health costs vs. Georgia
| Item | Gainesville | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $82.73 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $125.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $119.4 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gainesville Transportation costs vs. Georgia
| Item | Gainesville | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.34 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.12 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gainesville Utilities costs vs. Georgia
| Item | Gainesville | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $135.93 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.93 | $192.25 |
Gainesville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gainesville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gainesville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sugar Hill, GA has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Gainesville.
Buford, GA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Gainesville.
Braselton, GA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.2x Gainesville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gainesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Hill, GA | 26,128 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Buford, GA | 17,997 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Braselton, GA | 15,178 | 119 | 1.2x |
| Jefferson, GA | 14,990 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Flowery Branch, GA | 10,925 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Auburn, GA | 8,711 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Cumming, GA | 8,469 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Dahlonega, GA | 7,299 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Oakwood, GA | 5,862 | 97 | 0.9x |
