| Index | St. Marys | Georgia | National |
| Cost of living | 108 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 99 | 100 |
| Health care | 107 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 102 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 112 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 105 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 109 | 99 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in St. Marys 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 St. Marys stands at 108, marking it 8% higher than the national average.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in St. Marys are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of St. Marys can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in St. Marys. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is St. Marys 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 St. Marys, the median home price is 7.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 5.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in St. Marys come in at $97,813, which is 20.3% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in St. Marys starts at 4% and the income tax rates start at 1%.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In St. Marys, healthcare costs are 6.9% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for St. Marys are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $128,348 | $10,696 | $2,995 | $3,851 |
| Renters | $66,410 | $5,534 | $1,549 | $1,992 |
| 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. |
| Woodbine, GA | 1,370 | 94 | 5.5% |
| Kingsland, GA | 18,088 | 103 | 2.9% |
| Yulee, FL | 13,794 | 110 | 10.4% |
| Kings Bay Base, GA | 3,177 | 114 | 13.7% |
| Fernandina Beach, FL | 13,006 | 125 | 25.0% |
| St. Marys, GA | 18,720 | 108 | 7.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Schofield Barracks, HI | 18,724 | 175 | 75.1% |
| Sudley, VA | 18,730 | 123 | 22.7% |
| Harrison, NJ | 18,732 | 135 | 34.6% |
| Ashtabula, OH | 18,701 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Somerset, MA | 18,700 | 125 | 24.7% |
| St. Marys, GA | 18,720 | 108 | 7.8% |
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