So, you’re curious about living in Georgia? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Georgia.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Georgia matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Georgia is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Georgia
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Georgia is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Georgia:
- Taxes are not outlandishly high.
- The people are friendly and welcoming. And they love their college football!
- Atlanta has a major sports scene with lots to offer for everyone from pro teams, major collegiate programs, minor league baseball games, even some lacrosse leagues!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Georgia:
- Sadly there’s an abundance of bugs that can ruin any outdoor enjoyment with their incessant buzzing and biting in the summer.
- Summer can also be very hot and muggy.
Read More: Is Georgia a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Georgia
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Georgia? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Georgia!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Georgia.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Georgia:
- Athens
- Atlanta
- Decatur
- Milton
- Savannah
Read More: Best Places to Live in Georgia
Checklist for Moving to Georgia
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Georgia. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Georgia.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Georgia:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Georgia driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Georgia
- Getting Georgia car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Georgia and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Georgia.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Georgia and your previous home state.
Visit your Georgia Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Georgia Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Georgia.
Things to Know About Living in Georgia
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Georgia, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Georgia
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Georgia ranks 7th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 89.7, meaning it’s a relatively cheaper place to live.
Here is how Georgia scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 96.3
- Housing: 74.3
- Utilities: 90.3
- Transportation: 95.7
- Health: 97.9
- Miscellaneous: 96.6
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Georgia
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Georgia from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Georgia’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4%, with an average local rate of 3.32% (the highest local sales tax rate is 4.9%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 7.32%.
Check with the Georgia tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Georgia
If you own or plan to own real estate in Georgia, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Georgia ranks 26th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.92%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Georgia tax office for the most current tax rates.
Georgia’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Georgia is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Georgia ranks 8th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Professional and business services
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Information
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Construction
The top employer in Georgia is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Georgia
Our Georgia moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Georgia is Stone Mountain.
National Monuments that you can find in Georgia include:
- Fort Frederica National Monument
- Fort Pulaski National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Georgia
Georgia is the 4th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Tennessee and North Carolina, to its south is Florida, to its east is South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean, and to its west is Alabama.
What is the capital of Georgia?
The capital of Georgia is Atlanta.
Atlanta is located in Fulton and DeKalb counties with a population of 498,044.
What is the population of Georgia?
The population of Georgia based on 2020 US Census data is 10,711,908.
What is the largest city in Georgia?
The largest city in Georgia is Atlanta.
What is the size of Georgia?
Georgia is 59,425 square miles, making it the 24th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Georgia?
The state motto of Georgia is: Wisdom, Justice, Moderation
What is the state bird of Georgia?
The state bird of Georgia is the Brown thrasher.
What is the state flower of Georgia?
The state flower of Georgia is the Cherokee rose.
What is the state tree of Georgia?
The state tree of Georgia is the Southern Live Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Georgia?
The minimum wage in Georgia is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Georgia?
The median annual household salary in Georgia is $58,756.