Dalton cost of living
Prices in the Dalton, GA metro area run at 89.8 against a national average of 100, ranking it #292 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 63.3.
What drives the number
Prices in Dalton run at 89.8 where the national average is 100, so about 10.2 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #292 of 387 metro areas. Against Georgia as a whole it is 6.5 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 63.3 against goods at 96.3 and other services at 88.8, so the overall figure of 89.8 understates how affordable the housing itself is. Services, which are priced by local wages, are what hold the overall number up.
Low prices only help if pay does not fall by more. Dividing the local median wage by 89.8 is how to check, and the wage pages carry that comparison.
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 Dalton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 3,250 | $37,870 | $42,171 | $37,660 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,750 | $36,570 | $40,724 | $38,940 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 2,100 | $36,970 | $41,169 | $46,390 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,600 | $23,300 | $25,947 | $30,480 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 1,580 | $38,550 | $42,929 | $38,260 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,500 | $52,410 | $58,363 | $57,440 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,480 | $27,650 | $30,791 | $34,580 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,380 | $37,570 | $41,837 | $42,830 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 89.8.
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 |
| Athens-Clarke County | 93.3 | 76.8 | #201 |
Dalton: common questions
Is Dalton expensive?
Prices are 10.2% below the national average, a parity of 89.8 where the country is 100. It ranks #292 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Georgia as a whole it is 6.5 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Dalton?
The median worker there earns $40,820, which buys what $45,457 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 63.3 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.