| Index | Dalton | Georgia | National |
| Cost of living | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 83 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 99 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Dalton allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Dalton stands at 94, marking it 6% lower than the national average.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Dalton are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Dalton can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 5 residents in Dalton to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 0% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 100% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Dalton an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Dalton, the median home price is 14.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 24.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Dalton come in at $71,062, which is 12.6% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Dalton, healthcare costs are 2.4% lower than the national average.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Dalton, the housing index stands at 17.2% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Dalton, the groceries index registers 2.3% lower than the national average.
The Dalton cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $100,597 | $8,383 | $2,347 | $3,018 |
| Renters | $52,975 | $4,415 | $1,236 | $1,589 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Georgia | 4% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Georgia | 1% | 5.57% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Resaca, GA | 1,636 | 91 | 9.4% |
| Ringgold, GA | 3,555 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Cohutta, GA | 714 | 92 | 8.3% |
| Eton, GA | 1,221 | 92 | 7.7% |
| Varnell, GA | 2,439 | 93 | 7.5% |
| Dalton, GA | 34,537 | 94 | 6.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| DeLand, FL | 34,541 | 107 | 7.1% |
| Kearney, NE | 34,543 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Central Islip, NY | 34,526 | 128 | 28.1% |
| Franklin Town, MA | 34,557 | 144 | 43.9% |
| Alabaster, AL | 34,559 | 98 | 1.9% |
| Dalton, GA | 34,537 | 94 | 6.1% |
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