A
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
5%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 McDonough Georgia National
Cost of living10195100
Goods & Services9797100
Groceries10198100
Health care9898100
Housing10588100
Transportation10498100
Utilities102100100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in McDonough, GA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in McDonough? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in McDonough stands at 101, making it 1% higher 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.

The cost of living in McDonough aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. McDonough residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in McDonough?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 5 residents in McDonough 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? 40% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 60% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is McDonough Affordable?

Is McDonough affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take McDonough, for instance, where the median home price falls 3.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 23.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with McDonough flaunting a median household income of $105,119, 29.2% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in McDonough?

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 McDonough, the housing index stands at 4.5% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In McDonough, the utilities index is 2.1% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The McDonough 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in McDonough is 7% higher than the Georgia average
  • The cost of living in McDonough is 1% higher than the national average
  • McDonough housing is 5% higher than the national average
  • Georgia general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Georgia state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around McDonough

See all the best places to live around McDonough

Compare McDonough, GA Cost of Living

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      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$118,998$9,917$2,776$3,570
      Renters$84,883$7,074$1,980$2,547
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in McDonough, GA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. 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 payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In McDonough, homeowners have a median income of $118,998. Using that number, a maximum of $2,776 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $84,883, which means there is a maximum of $1,980 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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% 5.57%

      Goods & Services

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.03$27.628.7%
      Beauty Salon $54.03$51.115.7%
      Toothpaste $4.34$4.096.0%
      Shampoo $1.54$1.540.1%
      Movie $15.89$12.8823.4%
      Yoga $24.17$19.6622.9%

      Groceries

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.84$7.701.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.669.8%
      Milk $4.72$4.730.3%
      Potatoes $5.36$5.262.0%
      Pizza $12.01$12.765.9%
      Beer $10.87$10.553.0%

      Health Care

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.93$140.067.9%
      Doctor $137.33$153.8210.7%
      Dentist $141.59$123.1515.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.68$11.730.4%
      Lipitor $18.14$23.6123.2%

      Housing

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      Home Price $314,198.00$326,622.003.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,976.69$2,480.2520.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,789.00$1,444.0023.9%

      Transportation

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.93$3.064.3%
      Tire Balancing $80.82$65.2123.9%

      Utilities

      Item McDonough National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.98$220.123.6%
      Phone $195.76$195.710.0%
      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.
      East Griffin, GA1,4018415.7%
      Experiment, GA2,9858514.8%
      Sunny Side, GA2188614.2%
      Forest Park, GA20,3128713.4%
      Jonesboro, GA5,6418812.4%
      McDonough, GA26,2281011.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Franklin, IN26,224937.3%
      Bay Point, CA26,22114040.4%
      Lochearn, MD26,21611010.1%
      Soledad, CA26,21014746.6%
      White Bear Lake, MN26,2601098.5%
      McDonough, GA26,2281011.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.