Follow

Decatur, GA Cost of Living

Decatur cost of living index

In the event that the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used. Each cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. If the amount is below 100, it is lower than the national average. If the amount is above 100, it is higher than the national average.
IndexDecaturGeorgiaNational
Cost of living index12293100
IndexDecaturGeorgiaNational
Goods & Services index10296100
Groceries index10599100
Health care index10896100
Housing index17486100
Transportation index10196100
Utilities index8597100
The above illustration supplies generalized information for the Decatur, GA cost of living index. Compared to other cities in Georgia and cities across the country, the cost of living index in Decatur, GA is 122, which is 31% higher than the Georgia average and 22% higher than that for the entire country. The index is comprised of the following criteria: cost of retail goods and services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), cost of public/private transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). Everyday goods and services, along with housing account for 63 percent of the total cost of living index. Goods and services that are a necessity regardless of location provide an accurate general sense of the cost of living in one city versus another. As seen above, the cost of retail goods and services in Decatur, GA are 7% higher than the average for Georgia and 2% higher than the rest of the country.
For Sale
For Rent

Find real estate listings

Find rental listings

How would you rate the cost of living in Decatur?View resultsWrite a review to give others more information about this area.
Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Decatur?View resultsWrite a review to give others more information about this area.

Did you know?

  • The cost of living in Decatur is 31% higher than the Georgia average.
  • The cost of living in Decatur is 22% higher than the national average.
  • The cost of housing in Decatur is 74% higher than the national average.
  • Georgia general sales tax is 21% lower than the national average.
  • Georgia state income tax is 55% lower than the national average.

The best places in Georgia

Here are the best places to live in Georgia
Top 10 best public schools in Decatur
Check out the 10 safest cities in Georgia
Top 10 cities in Georgia with the best education system

Compare Decatur, GA Cost of living To Other Cities

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
Using the salary calculator lets you compare the salary you earn in Decatur, GA to what it is in other cities. It will let you know what your earnings would have to be in another city to have the same standard of living, as determined by the cost of living in each city. For example, if the cost of living in the area you want to move to is higher than the cost of living in Decatur, GA, you have to earn a higher income in order to still have the same standard of living. To operate the Decatur, GA salary calculator, put in the name of the other city, then move the slider to the point that represents the current income. The salary calculator will take care of the rest and tell you how much more or less you must earn in the new city. A Total breakdown of the cost of living is also provided.

Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

Median IncomePer YearPer MonthMax Budget (28% DTI)Max Budget (36% DTI)
Owners$130,955$10,913$3,055$3,929
Renters$27,369$2,281$639$821
How much of your monthly income goes to housing can tell you whether or not you can afford housing in Decatur, GA, as well as what the average cost of living is. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payment and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Decatur, GA homeowners have a median income of $130,955. Using that number, you will come up with a maximum of $3,055 per month that can be spent on the cost of housing. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $27,369, which means there is a maximum of $639 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

Georgia Sales Tax

StateGeneral Sales TaxWith Max Surtax
Georgia4%8%

Georgia Income Tax

StateIncome Tax (Low)Income Tax (High)
Georgia1%6%
When considering the overall cost of living expenses in Decatur, GA, it's important to take into account the sales tax for Georgia, as well as the rate for income tax in Georgia. Goods and services sold to consumers in any state have some form of sales tax. Each state has its own tax code, which means that sales tax rates vary from state to state, ranging from over 7% in some states to as low as 0% in others. The maximum surtax for Georgia is 8%, and the sales tax in the state of Georgia is 4%. Alternatively, the tax imposed on your income by the state government is known as income tax. The rate for this tax also varies from state to state, and your rate is affected by your tax bracket, which is determined by your level of income. Income tax rates might be as high as 9%, down to as low as 0%. The range for income tax rates in Georgia starts from 1% and goes up to 6%.

Goods & Services

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
Haircut $19.63$16.0922.1%
Beauty Salon $46.88$37.3325.6%
Toothpaste $2.87$2.4517.4%
Shampoo $0.94$1.005.7%
Movie $14.93$10.2845.3%
Bowling $4.96$4.930.6%

Groceries

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
Ground Beef $3.88$3.801.9%
Fried Chicken $1.27$1.409.3%
Milk $1.98$2.011.4%
Potatoes $3.75$3.0124.4%
Pizza $9.29$9.896.0%
Beer $9.07$8.901.9%

Health Care

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
Optometrist $102.23$102.160.1%
Doctor $105.10$108.363.0%
Dentist $114.97$92.5324.3%
Ibuprofen $9.38$9.281.1%
Lipitor $414.55$425.822.6%

Housing

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
Home Price $384,300.00$184,700.00108.1%
Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,050.93$1,202.4412.6%
Apartment Rent $894.00$949.005.8%

Transportation

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
Gasoline $2.32$2.243.3%
Tire Balancing $44.65$46.293.5%

Utilities

ItemDecaturNational avg.Difference
All Electricity$126.90$165.9623.5%
Phone $27.67$28.683.5%
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, StatePopulationCost of Living IndexNational Avg.
Lakeview Estates, GA2,75179-21%
Forest Park, GA19,15684-16%
Conley, GA5,39785-15%
Lake City, GA2,71287-13%
Lithonia, GA2,09387-13%
Decatur, GA21,21012222%

Cities with similar population

City, StatePopulationCost of Living IndexNational Avg.
Clinton, UT21,2101022%
Patterson, CA21,20511313%
Oxford, AL21,20290-10%
South Milwaukee, WI21,19794-6%
Arnold, MO21,19694-6%
Decatur, GA21,21012222%
Source: The Decatur, GA cost of living data displayed above is derived from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) for 2017.
Are you looking to buy or sell?
What style of home are you
What is your
$100K$250K$500K$750K$1M+
When are you looking to
ASAP1-3 mos.3-6 mos.6-9 mos.1 yr+
Connect with top real estate agents
By submitting this form, you consent to receive text messages, emails, and/or calls (may be recorded; and may be direct, autodialed or use pre-recorded/artificial voices even if on the Do Not Call list) from AreaVibes or our partner real estate professionals and their network of service providers, about your inquiry or the home purchase/rental process. Messaging and/or data rates may apply. Consent is not a requirement or condition to receive real estate services. You hereby further confirm that checking this box creates an electronic signature with the same effect as a handwritten signature.
Tools
General
Follow Us
© AreaVibes Inc. 2010-2019