When moving to Georgia, it is important to consider several aspects related to it. Georgia is also known by the nickname “Peach State” and is located in the south-eastern region of the US.
The state ranks 8th in terms of the population in the US. The state has a lower average cost of living compared to the US national average. Georgia is good terms of employment, having low unemployment rates. If you move to Georgia, then you do not need to worry about your education, as several reputable high schools and colleges are located here, ensuring quality education.
The progressive tax structure of the US has six brackets and a lower sales tax of 4%. This has reduced the cost for most of the items in the state considerably. It can be easier to relocate to Georgia, as the housing rates are comparatively lower. The climate of the state is warm and humid in summer and mild winters in the winter season. Georgia is a very safer state where you can stay very comfortably. Know more detailed information on Georgia below which can help you to make necessary preparations and get to know about the best time to visit Georgia.
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Is it expensive to live in Georgia?
According to worldpopulationreview, Georgia’s cost of living index is 89.2. It is comparatively lower than the united states index average of 100.
On average, the cost of living in Georgia is lower than across the U.S. Nationally, the cost of living in Georgia is 7.0% less expensive than in the rest of the country. With regards to overall living costs, Georgia ranks 24th out of all the states.
There are 14 metropolises in Georgia. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell is the most expensive city in Georgia, where the cost of living is 2.7% cheaper than the national average but 4.3% higher than Georgia.
| Georgia | US | |
| Median Home Value | $166,800.00 | $204,900.00 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968.00 | $1,023.00 |
| Average Car Insurance | $1,294.00 | $1,517.00 |
| Healthcare cost for Single Adult | $4,352.00 | $4,266.00 |
| Healthcare cost for family of four | $13,151.00 | $12,950.00 |
| Food cost for Single Adult | $3,156.00 | $3,240.00 |
| Food cost for family of four | $9,115.00 | $9,354.00 |
| Annual Child care cost | $6,675.00 | $8,903.00 |
| Annual Taxes | $7,010.00 | $6,542.00 |
Job Market and Trends
According to U.S. News, Georgia ranks 17 in the nation for employment.
In Georgia, the average household income is $78,574, While the median household income is $55,679
The most wanted job in Georgia is Physician assistant, With an average annual salary of $103,190
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, Georgia’s current unemployment rate in February 2021 was 4.8 %, which is lower than the 6.2% average Unemployment Rate in the United States.
It is 5.2x more common for a worker in Georgia to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Intermediate than all U.S. workers
The Most Common Jobs in Georgia
| Rank | Job | Local Jobs. | Mean Local Salary. |
| 1 | Retail salespersons | 110,850 | $21,084 |
| 2 | Cashiers | 84,700 | $15,361 |
| 3 | Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand | 69,550 | $21,070 |
| 4 | Customer service representatives | 68,660 | $24,656 |
| 5 | General and operations managers | 65,700 | $78,919 |
| 6 | Office clerks, general | 62,260 | $21,195 |
| 7 | Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food | 60,460 | $13,780 |
| 8 | Waiters and waitresses | 58,270 | $13,555 |
| 9 | Stock clerks and order fillers | 47,240 | $20,477 |
| 10 | Registered nurses | 45,510 | $50,971 |
Highest paying jobs
| Rank | Job Description | Average Salary i | Entry Level Salary i |
| 1 | Anesthesiologists | $200,310 | $148,750 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physicians | $199,900 | $83,550 |
| 3 | Postsecondary Law Teachers | $165,400 | $61,080 |
| 4 | Nurse Anesthetists | $163,830 | $137,140 |
| 5 | General Dentists | $162,220 | $59,070 |
| 6 | Air Traffic Controllers | $145,770 | $79,600 |
| 7 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $141,260 | $88,980 |
| 8 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $140,770 | $92,020 |
| 9 | General Pediatricians | $136,040 | $65,730 |
| 10 | Marketing Managers | $131,340 | $66,430 |
Top Employers
| # | Employer | City |
| 1 | Delta Air Lines Inc | Atlanta |
| 2 | Renal Division-Emory Univ | Atlanta |
| 3 | US Army Fort Benning | Fort Benning |
| 4 | Robins Air Force Base | Warner Robins |
| 5 | Fort Stewart 3rd Infantry Div | Fort Stewart |
| 6 | Emory University | Atlanta |
| 7 | Home Depot Inc | Atlanta |
| 8 | University-Ga Biomedical | Athens |
| 9 | Lockheed Martin Corp | Marietta |
| 10 | Delta Air Lines Inc | Atlanta |
Income and Other Taxes
In the United States, Georgia’s tax system is considered to be in the middle of the pack when it comes to the burden it places on taxpayers.
Combined state and local sales taxes in the Peach State average 7.31%. The state’s top marginal income tax rate of 5.75%. Likewise, its average property and gas taxes are near national averages.
Of course, these various rates mean individual taxpayers could end up paying more or less depending on their income and other factors.
Georgia income Tax:
Georgia state is applicable to dividends and interest income.
Georgia State has a progressive tax structure.
Georgia state tax is divided into 6 number brackets with tax rates of
1%-5.75% applicable on income range of $750-$7,001.
Georgia Sales Tax:
Georgia State is ranked 40 nationwide. In Georgia, the state sales tax is 4.00% and the average local tax rate is 3.31%.
Georgia Property Tax:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia state’s median property tax is $ 1,397 with an effective property tax rate of 0.88%.
Georgia Gas Taxes:
Georgia state has a $0.279 / gallon gasoline tax and a $0.313 / gallon diesel tax.
Georgia Cigarettes Tax:
Georgia State ranks 50th out of 50 states in the cigarette tax. In Georgia, the cigarette tax per pack of 20 is $0.37.
What is the economy like?
Georgia is currently ranked 21st for its economic outlook and 10th for economic performance rank.
Georgia has the 35th highest economic exposure to COVID-19.
2,515,537 of Georgia’s total employees are employed in COVID-19-exposed sectors, making up 47% of all employees in the state.
In 2019, the population of Georgia is 10,617,423, and the annual population growth rate for the state is 1.1%. This ranks 12th out of the 50 states.
In 2019, Georgia’s Gross State Product grew by 3.0% to $539.5bn. It ranks 12th in the US as a whole.
Where does Georgia rank in education?
According to U.S. News, Georgia is ranked 26th overall in the United States education system, 19th for higher education and 30th for Pre-K-12.
Georgia is ranked 37th for quality of education in public schools among all 50 states by WalletHub. Georgia schools spend $10,810 per pupil for a total of $18.7 billion annually. That’s the equivalent of 4% of taxpayer income. 96,030 college students graduate annually in Georgia.
The cost of the average community college in Georgia is $2,990 for In-state tuition and $8,330 for out-of-state tuition. In Georgia, public university costs $18,543 which is less than the national average of $21,216.
| Education Rank | 37 |
| State | Georgia |
| In-State Total | $18,543 |
| In-State Tuition & Fees | $7,539 |
| Room & Board | $11,003 |
| Out-Of-State Tuition & Fees | $23,434 |
Housing and Real Estate Market Trends
Living in Georgia and investing in real estate can be a great experience because the state has housing costs below the national average, low taxes, and a low cost of living. According to figures from the Georgia Association of Realtors (GAR), the housing market’s current state is excellent. Despite the increase in home prices in Georgia, inventory levels have fallen by 50% to 1.6 months, with the supply increasing by 13%.
The median single-family home in Georgia costs slightly less than the median condo. From least valuable median home to most valuable median home, Georgia ranked 20th overall.
Median home value in Atlanta: $299,308
In the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area, the median home value is $244,070. According to the Atlanta Realtors Association, approximately 291,000 homes were sold in May 2020, according to the Atlanta Realtors® Association.
This popular southeastern state is home to one of the eighth-most populated populations in the country and is known as the “Peach State.”.
In Georgia, the fastest-growing cities include Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Athens-Clarke, according to WalletHub.
Most Affordable Cities in Georgia
- Warner Robins
- Atkinson
- Duluth
- Johnson
- Gainesville
- Smyrna
- Wilcox
- Marietta
- Newnan
- Stewart
Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Atlanta, GA
- Tuxedo Park
- Kingswood
- Randall Mill
- Peachtree Battle Alliance
- Margaret Mitchell
- Argonne Forest
- Chastain Park
- Mt. Paran – Northside
- Brookhaven
- Paces
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How is the Weather?
A distinct oceanic climate in Georgia’s extreme northeast leads to a humid subtropical climate through much of the rest of the state. Warm, humid summers are followed by mild, mild winters.
Hot and humid summer months are common in the northeastern and southern regions, while temperatures average 72°F (22.2°C). High temperature in Georgia during the summer ranges between 90°F (32.2°C) and 100°F (37.8°C) and reaches 110°F (43.3°C).
Different parts of the state experience extremes of temperature from south to north in winter. On average, 110 days of freezing temperatures occur in the north each year, while only 10 days occur along the coast. The southern three-fourths of the country enjoy temperatures above freezing during the winter, even when the cold is at its worst. Summer is the wettest season of the year, followed by autumn and late spring (April and May). In the autumn, the mild weather and sun provide the best conditions to harvest crops.
In Georgia, the average annual precipitation is 48 inches (1219.2 mm), ranging from 45 inches (1143 mm) in the eastern and central parts to 53 inches (1346.2 mm) in the south and 75 inches (1905 mm) in the northeast. There are two major weather extremes per year in different areas of the state. There are two maximums in a year: winter and early spring. It is very warm and humid during the summer, with low relative humidity in the morning and above-average relative humidity in the afternoon. Georgia has average annual sunshine hours of 2756, and it gets maximum snowfall of 5″ (127mm) in the northern mountains.
Weather hazards
A wide range of weather conditions is frequent in Georgia, including thunderstorms, floods, droughts, and tropical storms. The humid Gulf of Mexico helps to cause thunderstorms in the summer. During the summer, storms drive the rain, which helps keep the afternoon heat tolerable.
Winter and early spring are usually times of floods. In eastern parts of the country, where the rainfall is low, drought is quite frequent. Crops in some areas are damaged every year by irregular rainfall distribution. A tornado occurs on average every 18 years and occurs most frequently in spring.
Pros and Cons of Living in Georgia
Pros – Reasons to Move to Georgia
- Reasonable Cost of Living
Georgia’s overall cost of living is 6.6% less than the national average. It is considered the 11th most affordable state to reside in the United States.
- Winter Months are mild and short.
Georgia experiences small flurries of snow for a day or two and doesn’t feature harsh and freezing cold weather.
- Stunning Natural Beauty
This ‘Peach State’ is famous for boasting endless picturesque sights and varied landscapes. It is home to both majestic mountains and stunning beaches.
- Hub of outdoor activities
Georgia enjoys the presence of both coastline and mountains. Therefore, it offers a plethora of outdoor activities such as hiking, canyoning, camping, biking, fishing, etc.
- An array of job opportunities
The state of Georgia is a land of career opportunities. It is a good job market and home to over a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
- Higher employment rate
The employment rate of Georgia is 2% more than the national average. Its GDP is about $564 billion, and the state stands at the 11th position in the country in terms of economy.
- Dining
Georgia is a perfect place to relish mouth-watering delicacies such as Pecans, Fried Chicken, Pimento Cheese Stuffed Deviled Eggs, etc.
- Affordable Housing
One can simply purchase a house in Georgia by spending just $186,500, way cheaper than other states.
Cons – Reasons Not to Move to Georgia
- Humidity
Georgia has a humid climate with long and warm summers. The highest temperature ever recorded here is 112-degree Fahrenheit.
- Low Median Income
The median household income in Georgia is $49,342, which is lower than the national average. The average income of the resident here is just about $25, 427 per year.
- High Income Tax
The income tax rate of Georgia is around 6% (the US average is 4.6%).
- Bugs-prone
The state of Georgia is home to a plethora of creepy bugs such as ants, gnats, palmetto, etc. Most of them are pesky and biting. Therefore, you should stay alert.
- Bizarre laws
Georgia has a variety of weird and wacky laws that will leave you scratching your head. One such is that you cannot keep ice cream in your back pocket on Sunday.
- Poor education system
If you have growing kids, Georgia might not be the right place for you. Despite regular improvements, this state’s education system faces several challenges.
You may also be interested in: Is Savannah Georgia Safe?
Moving to Georgia – Things You Can Do
- Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Savannah Historic District
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- Neptune Park
- Anna Ruby Falls
- Tybee Island Light Station And Museum
- Mercier Orchards
- Lake Oconee
- Masters
- Driftwood Beach
- Christ Church
- Augusta Canal Discovery Center
- Fort Frederica National Monument
- Riverwalk
- Tybee Island Beach
- Toccoa River Swinging Bridge
- National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
- Marietta Square
- Stone Mountain Park
The information above regarding Georgia can help you tremendously while moving to Georgia. As the cost of living is lower compared to the other states, it is much easier to live in the state. As the tax rates are low, you can get price reductions on many items in Georgia compared to the other states.
The better availability of reputable high schools and colleges makes it proper to live with family. The growing economy seems to bring more development to the state. Living in Georgia can be a pleasurable experience as many picturesque places are there nearby. Despite there are some cons listed above, there are some pros too about the state which makes it suitable to stay. Come to Georgia to live a very pleasant life with easy availability of all basic amenities.
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