Athens-Clarke County cost of living
Prices in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area run at 93.3 against a national average of 100, ranking it #201 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 76.8.
What drives the number
Prices in Athens-Clarke County run at 93.3 where the national average is 100, so about 6.7 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #201 of 387 metro areas. Against Georgia as a whole it is 3 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 76.8 against goods at 96.3 and other services at 89.3, so the overall figure of 93.3 understates how affordable the housing itself is. It is the opposite of the usual pattern, where housing is what makes a place expensive.
The number is most useful in reverse: a job here can pay less in cash and still leave a household better off, by roughly 6.7 per cent before anything else is considered.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Athens-Clarke County is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 4,040 | $24,530 | $26,292 | $30,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | 3,020 | $27,830 | $29,829 | $34,580 |
| Registered Nurses | 2,180 | $79,940 | $85,681 | $93,600 |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,040 | $40,050 | $42,926 | $43,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,950 | $17,810 | $19,089 | $33,760 |
| Cashiers | 1,950 | $27,330 | $29,293 | $31,190 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,900 | $38,220 | $40,965 | $48,620 |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,780 | $77,220 | $82,765 | $102,950 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 93.3.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | 100.1 | 111.0 | #88 |
| Gainesville | 96.8 | 93.5 | #132 |
| Savannah | 95.2 | 86.0 | #164 |
| Hinesville | 93.9 | 79.5 | #183 |
| Warner Robins | 93.8 | 79.2 | #188 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | 91.9 | 70.6 | #244 |
Athens-Clarke County: common questions
Is Athens-Clarke County expensive?
Prices are 6.7% below the national average, a parity of 93.3 where the country is 100. It ranks #201 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Georgia as a whole it is 3 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Athens-Clarke County?
The median worker there earns $39,340, which buys what $42,165 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 76.8 against goods at 96.3. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.