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
What is the cheapest place to live in Georgia? The cheapest place to live in Georgia for 2026 is Waycross 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 2026
/10
Population: 13,756
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $38,301
Median Home Price: $146,386
Median Rent: $768
If you’re looking to buy a home in Georgia, you won’t find many cheaper places than Waycross. The median home price in Waycross is only $146,386, so if you’re moving to Waycross with a nest egg, you’re in luck. Folks in Waycross earn a median income of $38,301, giving Waycross the 37th best home price to income ratio in the state. The income to rent ratio isn’t nearly as impressive, so we’d suggest buying if you’re trying to take full advantage of Waycross’s affordability.
You can save even more money if you stick to hobbies like hiking around Okefenokee Swamp Park. Just watch out for alligators!
More on Waycross: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
I am from Waycross. It is safe in this town and people are friendly. I have traveled to many other places and people are the same
And trust me we have rednecks, we have uppity snobs and some really good and honest people.
And we thank G*d for convenience stores and discount stores and belks, jc Penney and all out boutiques.
It is enough. And we have less traffic. And our high schools have produced Ivy League students.
Thank you very much. And we also have many wonderful Churches.
/10
Population: 8,858
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $50,283
Median Home Price: $158,985
Median Rent: $886
Next on our list is Fort Valley, a city In the middle of Peach County. A median rent of $886 won’t break the bank, allowing its 8,858 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 | Movers
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.
/10
Population: 15,813
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $39,176
Median Home Price: $128,313
Median Rent: $834
Americus, home to a population of 15,813, ranks as the third cheapest place to live in the Peach State. With a median home value of $128,313, 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 85 ensures residents enjoy a budget filled with extra peaches, pimento cheese, and boiled peanuts.
More on Americus: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,994
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $33,800
Median Home Price: $134,690
Median Rent: $786
Cordele is a city in Crisp County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,147 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Crisp County.
More on Cordele: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,124
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $38,137
Median Home Price: $155,383
Median Rent: $794
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 | Movers
/10
Population: 7,571
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $49,750
Median Home Price: $129,026
Median Rent: $836
In Georgia’s Emanuel County, you’ll find Swainsboro, the sixth most affordable city in Georgia. It ranks well thanks to its low 86 cost of living index, 9.5% 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 – $129,026. Those prices leave more in your pocket for a weekend trip to Augusta or Savannah.
More on Swainsboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,601
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 86
Median Income: $49,833
Median Home Price: $152,996
Median Rent: $811
Sandersville is a city of 5,601 located about 60 miles southwest of Augusta. It’s known as the Kaolin Capital of the World due to its vast deposits of kaolinite.
Locals celebrate their abundance of this important industrial mineral each year with the Kaolin Festival, but don’t worry; it’s not as boring as a bunch of gray rocks. It’s more of a live entertainment, great food, and parade-type deal. Oh, and a Miss Kaolin event, of course.
Sandersville is especially attractive for renters who want to try out the area, seeing as the city has the 18th lowest median rent in all of Georgia at $811. But the The cost of living in Sandersville is very affordable across the board.
Homes in Sandersville sell for a median price of $152,996, and your typical household earns $49,833 each year. As far as the quality of the homes goes, well, Sandersville is chock-full of impressive and distinct architecture.
More on Sandersville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
You based this on data!-! What a crock…visit these towns and you will find happy people enjoying their lives and family. I am from Sandersville and you are very wrong about it. You act like it is 1,000 miles from anywhere.
Crime is low because it is a small town and you know your neighbor and probably their entire family. Talking about a Days Inn at the only exit..what are you talking about- What exit- There isn’t an interstate near there. There are other hotels in town
It is a wonderful town, a community with pride and love. Trust me, I live near Lake Norman, NC now. There are expensive houses and people making lots of money but most have friends based on status and not true friends..you lose your money, you lose your friends. In Small towns like Sandersville, they might not have the most money but the whole community comes together to make it a wonderful cute little town. They will treat strangers like friends and make you feel welcome and at home….you can’t judge a town by data. Data doesn’t have a heart and soul like this wonderful little town. Plus you live in Dunham…not a place I would recommend.
/10
Population: 11,749
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $34,408
Median Home Price: $185,359
Median Rent: $680
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589. Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 50,731 as of the 2010 census.
More on Douglas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,227
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $34,754
Median Home Price: $205,346
Median Rent: $896
Cedartown is a city in Polk County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,750. The city is the county seat of Polk County. Cedartown is the principal city of and is included in the Cedartown, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama Combined Statistical Area.
More on Cedartown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,831
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 87
Median Income: $38,917
Median Home Price: $178,185
Median Rent: $811
Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,638 at the 2006 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta – Sandy Springs – Gainesville – Alabama Combined Statistical Area.
More on Thomaston: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
It was good. I loved it I had a good experince
Everything stood out escipally the tastvof the food had a good experience
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Peach State for 2026
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 2020-2024 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 131 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 Waycross.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh 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 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Georgia.
The cheapest cities in Georgia are Waycross, Fort Valley, Americus, Cordele, Camilla, Swainsboro, Sandersville, Douglas, Cedartown, and Thomaston.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Georgia according to the data:
- Decatur
- Brookhaven
- Milton
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 | Waycross | 13,756 | 83 | $38,301 | $146,386 | $768 |
| 2 | Fort Valley | 8,858 | 83 | $50,283 | $158,985 | $886 |
| 3 | Americus | 15,813 | 85 | $39,176 | $128,313 | $834 |
| 4 | Cordele | 9,994 | 85 | $33,800 | $134,690 | $786 |
| 5 | Camilla | 5,124 | 85 | $38,137 | $155,383 | $794 |
| 6 | Swainsboro | 7,571 | 86 | $49,750 | $129,026 | $836 |
| 7 | Sandersville | 5,601 | 86 | $49,833 | $152,996 | $811 |
| 8 | Douglas | 11,749 | 87 | $34,408 | $185,359 | $680 |
| 9 | Cedartown | 10,227 | 87 | $34,754 | $205,346 | $896 |
| 10 | Thomaston | 9,831 | 87 | $38,917 | $178,185 | $811 |
| 11 | Fitzgerald | 8,918 | 87 | $37,323 | $128,232 | $670 |
| 12 | LaFayette | 6,967 | 87 | $46,018 | $158,532 | $840 |
| 13 | Thomson | 6,821 | 87 | $42,180 | $202,123 | $848 |
| 14 | Jesup | 9,942 | 88 | $46,974 | $202,641 | $696 |
| 15 | Toccoa | 9,238 | 88 | $48,438 | $233,280 | $711 |
| 16 | Eatonton | 6,515 | 88 | $56,250 | $399,154 | $954 |
| 17 | Adel | 5,641 | 88 | $43,618 | $170,821 | $969 |
| 18 | Blakely | 5,238 | 88 | $49,821 | $129,945 | $765 |
| 19 | Albany | 67,224 | 89 | $47,240 | $129,373 | $931 |
| 20 | Forest Park | 19,504 | 89 | $41,211 | $165,626 | $1,189 |
| 21 | Tifton | 17,210 | 89 | $45,298 | $210,037 | $798 |
| 22 | Dublin | 16,136 | 89 | $42,988 | $192,481 | $847 |
| 23 | Vidalia | 10,752 | 89 | $49,370 | $184,384 | $794 |
| 24 | Jonesboro | 6,143 | 89 | $50,843 | $241,617 | $1,068 |
| 25 | Waynesboro | 5,644 | 89 | $41,620 | $188,664 | $746 |
| 26 | Eastman | 5,584 | 89 | $52,394 | $154,913 | $770 |
| 27 | Sylvester | 5,489 | 89 | $58,417 | $172,687 | $896 |
| 28 | Statesboro | 34,149 | 90 | $44,737 | $276,367 | $944 |
| 29 | Griffin | 23,761 | 90 | $43,632 | $240,028 | $1,110 |
| 30 | Brunswick | 15,307 | 90 | $40,288 | $254,063 | $951 |
| 31 | Moultrie | 14,588 | 90 | $43,670 | $170,767 | $790 |
| 32 | Fort Oglethorpe | 10,416 | 90 | $51,867 | $245,690 | $937 |
| 33 | Morrow | 6,364 | 91 | $73,693 | $216,943 | $1,515 |
| 34 | Rockmart | 5,204 | 91 | $56,828 | $254,775 | $986 |
| 35 | Milledgeville | 16,748 | 92 | $41,616 | $244,327 | $913 |
| 36 | Cairo | 10,055 | 92 | $40,920 | $178,783 | $778 |
| 37 | Glennville | 5,179 | 92 | $52,844 | $203,965 | $548 |
| 38 | Valdosta | 55,252 | 93 | $45,925 | $210,104 | $1,054 |
| 39 | Rome | 38,189 | 93 | $54,435 | $229,354 | $1,032 |
| 40 | Hinesville | 35,679 | 93 | $60,028 | $237,453 | $1,212 |
| 41 | Dalton | 34,538 | 93 | $63,577 | $242,582 | $996 |
| 42 | LaGrange | 32,078 | 93 | $43,708 | $236,812 | $1,073 |
| 43 | Riverdale | 14,792 | 93 | $63,455 | $214,168 | $1,360 |
| 44 | Bainbridge | 14,404 | 93 | $45,422 | $172,159 | $791 |
| 45 | Temple | 5,901 | 93 | $91,180 | $284,500 | $1,384 |
| 46 | Warner Robins | 82,990 | 94 | $66,970 | $212,129 | $1,212 |
| 47 | Perry | 23,001 | 94 | $76,909 | $273,008 | $1,132 |
| 48 | Monroe | 15,648 | 94 | $44,656 | $371,278 | $1,105 |
| 49 | Centerville | 8,505 | 94 | $68,922 | $227,613 | $1,312 |
| 50 | Stone Mountain | 6,623 | 94 | $46,973 | $268,438 | $1,540 |
| 51 | Barnesville | 6,121 | 94 | $57,411 | $258,106 | $846 |
| 52 | Byron | 5,971 | 94 | $85,596 | $263,141 | $1,020 |
| 53 | Jackson | 5,741 | 94 | $46,191 | $283,113 | $817 |
| 54 | Social Circle | 5,217 | 94 | $88,591 | $361,856 | $1,083 |
| 55 | Columbus | 203,711 | 96 | $58,073 | $173,152 | $1,106 |
| 56 | Garden City | 10,426 | 96 | $47,814 | $272,348 | $1,282 |
| 57 | Auburn | 8,711 | 96 | $77,034 | $365,246 | $1,326 |
| 58 | Union City | 27,728 | 97 | $49,549 | $231,232 | $1,330 |
| 59 | Carrollton | 27,392 | 97 | $54,379 | $285,668 | $1,089 |
| 60 | Winder | 19,437 | 97 | $63,779 | $338,264 | $1,209 |
| 61 | Conyers | 18,512 | 97 | $63,140 | $297,596 | $1,318 |
| 62 | Calhoun | 18,183 | 97 | $58,750 | $273,432 | $873 |
| 63 | Oakwood | 5,862 | 97 | $67,917 | $322,538 | $1,560 |
| 64 | East Point | 38,335 | 98 | $68,598 | $231,600 | $1,364 |
| 65 | Fairburn | 16,831 | 98 | $91,897 | $321,970 | $1,479 |
| 66 | Clarkston | 14,557 | 98 | $48,564 | $267,835 | $1,422 |
| 67 | Commerce | 8,013 | 98 | $60,961 | $334,904 | $1,183 |
| 68 | Bremen | 7,488 | 98 | $93,780 | $290,336 | $951 |
| 69 | Hiram | 5,231 | 98 | $85,119 | $312,225 | $2,085 |
| 70 | Lawrenceville | 30,954 | 99 | $61,561 | $382,152 | $1,613 |
| 71 | Grovetown | 17,014 | 99 | $85,660 | $304,549 | $1,407 |
| 72 | Covington | 14,584 | 99 | $58,810 | $292,186 | $1,191 |
| 73 | Lovejoy | 11,508 | 99 | $71,612 | $279,096 | $1,481 |
| 74 | Hampton | 8,687 | 99 | $75,052 | $307,291 | $1,712 |
| 75 | Hapeville | 6,630 | 99 | $95,714 | $265,298 | $1,640 |
| 76 | Savannah | 147,898 | 100 | $57,137 | $326,508 | $1,382 |
| 77 | Douglasville | 37,536 | 100 | $79,107 | $301,699 | $1,582 |
| 78 | McDonough | 30,947 | 100 | $75,343 | $334,349 | $1,792 |
| 79 | Villa Rica | 18,551 | 100 | $87,803 | $311,754 | $1,547 |
| 80 | Dallas | 14,714 | 100 | $75,545 | $354,267 | $1,492 |
| 81 | Locust Grove | 10,532 | 100 | $75,083 | $324,431 | $1,573 |
| 82 | Austell | 8,447 | 100 | $72,938 | $292,180 | $1,494 |
| 83 | Stockbridge | 35,737 | 101 | $70,136 | $289,838 | $1,494 |
| 84 | Thomasville | 18,666 | 101 | $49,673 | $232,158 | $1,077 |
| 85 | Dacula | 7,444 | 101 | $100,821 | $448,400 | $1,836 |
| 86 | Powder Springs | 18,009 | 102 | $105,070 | $363,228 | $1,583 |
| 87 | College Park | 14,712 | 102 | $51,635 | $277,093 | $1,207 |
| 88 | Gainesville | 45,032 | 103 | $66,974 | $373,267 | $1,299 |
| 89 | Acworth | 22,473 | 103 | $83,539 | $409,265 | $1,664 |
| 90 | Kingsland | 19,627 | 103 | $77,944 | $297,403 | $1,275 |
| 91 | Lilburn | 15,390 | 104 | $63,581 | $397,447 | $1,778 |
| 92 | Cartersville | 24,074 | 105 | $84,437 | $323,099 | $1,229 |
| 93 | Snellville | 21,620 | 105 | $89,896 | $355,607 | $1,818 |
| 94 | Cumming | 8,469 | 105 | $85,868 | $603,208 | $1,705 |
| 95 | Kennesaw | 34,605 | 106 | $83,356 | $403,298 | $1,845 |
| 96 | Loganville | 15,527 | 106 | $83,605 | $392,226 | $2,018 |
| 97 | Jefferson | 14,990 | 106 | $109,828 | $416,352 | $1,074 |
| 98 | Port Wentworth | 12,892 | 106 | $79,731 | $290,498 | $1,812 |
| 99 | Fayetteville | 19,719 | 107 | $82,188 | $455,205 | $1,720 |
| 100 | Newnan | 44,235 | 108 | $82,292 | $363,872 | $1,542 |