State relocation profile · Federal data
Georgia
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Georgia from federal sources.
- 96.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,202
- 2BR rent / mo
- $69,371
- Median salary
- 50.9
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Georgia ranks #26 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (50.9/100, D), with its strongest marks in childcare and cost of living.
- #26 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 50.9
- Life Score · D
- 96.3
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $69,371
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: environment (38/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Georgia ranks #26 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 96.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,202/mo, median salary $69,371; Life Score 50.9/100 (D), strongest in childcare and cost of living.
Signature: Georgia lists 14 MSAs in this dataset, a dense metro book for state-level averages.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 96.3 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,202/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $69,371.
Composite Life Score 50.9/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#26 of 51).
Metro book is dense (14 MSAs); drill a named metro before treating the state average as a destination.
Life Score plate
Sheet GA · Georgia 50.9/100 · D · #26 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-CHILDCARE · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-MID #26/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.1 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 96.3
- LEAD-CHILDCARE Lead · childcare
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Maine ( -0.1 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Georgia
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Georgia on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Georgia childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Georgia (infant $6,591/yr leads the book).
Georgia Life Score breakdown
Georgia composites to 50.9/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #26 of 51.
Georgia - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Childcare
Childcare
95 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
52 /100
- Schools
Schools
52 /100
- Rent
Rent
48 /100
- Safety
Safety
48 /100
- Wages
Wages
38 /100
- Environment
Environment
38 /100
What this shows Georgia's strongest dimensions are childcare and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is environment at 38/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Georgia on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Georgia on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Georgia
Explore detailed relocation data for 14 metropolitan areas in Georgia. Georgia contains 14 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Albany, Athens-Clarke County, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Albany metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Georgia cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Georgia wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.