A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
37%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Vidalia Georgia National
Cost of living8693100
Goods & Services9797100
Groceries9798100
Health care95100100
Housing6386100
Transportation9794100
Utilities8686100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Vidalia, GA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Vidalia? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Vidalia stands at 86, making it 14% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Is Vidalia Affordable?

Is Vidalia affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Vidalia, the median home price is 35.5% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 39.1% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Vidalia boasting a median household income of $44,635, 19.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Vidalia?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Vidalia, the standard sales tax rate starts at 4%, and the income tax rates commence at 1%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Vidalia, the utilities index registers at 14.2% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Vidalia, the groceries index is 2.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Vidalia cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

New Real Estate Listings in Vidalia Area
Search Homes for Sale in Vidalia, GA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Vidalia is 7% lower than the Georgia average
  • The cost of living in Vidalia is 14% lower than the national average
  • Vidalia housing is 37% lower than the national average
  • Georgia general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Georgia state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Vidalia

See all the best places to live around Vidalia

Compare Vidalia, GA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Vidalia?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Vidalia?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Vidalia poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$62,963$5,247$1,469$1,889
      Renters$30,885$2,574$721$927
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Vidalia is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Vidalia has a median income of about $62,963 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,469 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $30,885. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $721 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Georgia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Georgia 4% 8%

      Georgia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Georgia 1% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      Haircut $13.33$24.2645.0%
      Beauty Salon $35.83$45.5621.4%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.2%
      Shampoo $1.10$1.2813.8%
      Movie $12.83$12.135.8%
      Bowling $7.50$18.0058.3%

      Groceries

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.74$5.8415.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.5%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.52$4.9311.9%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.4%
      Beer $9.98$10.414.1%

      Health Care

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $133.00$125.685.8%
      Doctor $83.33$135.7838.6%
      Dentist $131.25$113.2915.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.05$10.655.6%
      Lipitor $510.21$468.608.9%

      Housing

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      Home Price $119,200.00$184,700.0035.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,438.43$2,346.6938.7%
      Apartment Rent $578.00$949.0039.1%

      Transportation

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.20$3.467.6%
      Tire Balancing $65.19$59.928.8%

      Utilities

      Item Vidalia National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $150.33$193.9922.5%
      Phone $189.93$192.251.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Oak Park, GA6567920.5%
      Lyons, GA4,2638020.3%
      Soperton, GA3,0718020.1%
      Uvalda, GA4138119.0%
      Santa Claus, GA1708317.2%
      Vidalia, GA10,3808614.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Danville, IN10,380972.9%
      Liberty Lake, WA10,38112323.3%
      Beverly Hills, MI10,37812726.9%
      Richmond Heights, OH10,376919.3%
      Progress Village, FL10,3731033.1%
      Vidalia, GA10,3808614.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.