| Index | Decatur | Georgia | National |
| Cost of living | 147 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 255 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 102 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 99 | 100 |
The cost of living in Decatur affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Decatur is 147, which is 47% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Decatur is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Decatur falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Decatur, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 155.1% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Decatur and this is how they responded. 33% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 67% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Decatur 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 Decatur, the median home price is 203.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 41.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Decatur come in at $172,807, which is 112.5% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Decatur, the transportation index stands at 0.9% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
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 Decatur, healthcare costs are 0.6% higher than the national average.
The Decatur cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $231,719 | $19,310 | $5,406 | $6,952 |
| Renters | $73,358 | $6,113 | $1,712 | $2,201 |
| 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. |
| Lakeview Estates, GA | 2,627 | 79 | 20.8% |
| Forest Park, GA | 20,312 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Conley, GA | 6,867 | 88 | 12.1% |
| Lake City, GA | 2,897 | 91 | 9.2% |
| Lithonia, GA | 2,552 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Decatur, GA | 25,677 | 147 | 46.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Muskego, WI | 25,672 | 115 | 15.3% |
| Fountain Hills, AZ | 25,686 | 132 | 32.3% |
| Ardmore, OK | 25,666 | 90 | 9.7% |
| Tecumseh, ON | 25,689 | n/a | |
| Burlington, IA | 25,653 | 88 | 11.8% |
| Decatur, GA | 25,677 | 147 | 46.8% |
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