Cost of Living in Brunswick, GA
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Brunswick, GA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Brunswick, GA?
With a price level of 87.7 (U.S. average = 100), Brunswick, GA is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 44% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 13% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Brunswick, GA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.7 | −12.3% |
| Housing | 56.3 | −43.7% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 87.3 | −12.7% |
| Other services | 98.7 | −1.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Brunswick, GA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,035 | $41,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,105 | $44,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,293 | $51,720/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,550 | $62,000/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,906 | $76,240/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Brunswick, GA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Brunswick, GA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,100 | $29,184 |
| $60,000 | $52,600 | $42,337 |
| $80,000 | $70,200 | $55,195 |
| $100,000 | $87,700 | $66,598 |
| $150,000 | $131,600 | $95,007 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Georgia 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Brunswick, GA's median wage of $41,940 takes home about $2,860 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,105, which is 39% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,755 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Brunswick, GA
- Federal income tax$2,853
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,600
- Medicare (1.45%)$608
- Georgia income tax$1,554
- Take-home pay$34,325
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Pay and living costs in Georgia cities
Half of Georgia’s 4,889,170 workers earn less than $48,170 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,700–$77,570 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Warner Robins, GA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Athens, GA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | 100.1 | $1,646 | 48% | $1,793 | $41,238 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,700 | 91.5 | $1,263 | 40% | $1,896 | $41,440 |
| Augusta, GA | $45,990 | 91.9 | $1,110 | 36% | $2,004 | $40,661 |
| Savannah, GA | $47,240 | 95.2 | $1,533 | 48% | $1,659 | $40,237 |
| Columbus, GA | $43,540 | 89.3 | $936 | 32% | $2,025 | $39,786 |
| Gainesville, GA | $45,900 | 96.8 | $1,381 | 44% | $1,727 | $38,548 |
| Athens, GA | $41,220 | 93.3 | $1,183 | 42% | $1,632 | $36,193 |
| Macon, GA | $45,160 | 88.5 | $1,145 | 37% | $1,917 | $41,507 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $48,600 | 93.8 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,085 | $41,935 |
| Dalton, GA | $42,210 | 89.8 | $879 | 31% | $1,998 | $38,431 |
| Albany, GA | $43,620 | 87.7 | $1,006 | 34% | $1,960 | $40,593 |
| Valdosta, GA | $39,110 | 88.3 | $921 | 34% | $1,762 | $36,476 |
| Brunswick, GA | $41,940 | 87.7 | $1,105 | 39% | $1,755 | $39,135 |
| Rome, GA | $42,670 | 90.2 | $923 | 32% | $1,983 | $38,679 |
| Hinesville, GA | $46,670 | 93.9 | $1,232 | 39% | $1,925 | $40,327 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Brunswick, GA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick, GA | 87.7 | $1,105 | $41,940 | 46,860 |
| Albany, OR | 102.1 | $1,236 | $49,700 | 47,260 |
| Morristown, TN | 86.4 | $887 | $44,280 | 47,290 |
| Lewiston, ME | 94.7 | $1,218 | $49,540 | 47,660 |
| Farmington, NM | 87.7 | $885 | $45,820 | 47,670 |
| Johnstown, PA | 85.9 | $846 | $44,110 | 47,810 |
| Hammond, LA | 84.5 | $848 | $38,480 | 47,820 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Brunswick, GA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro area are 87.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 56.3%. It is the #342 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Brunswick, GA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,625 in Brunswick, GA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $41,940.
Can you afford Brunswick, GA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $41,940 median wage takes home about $2,860 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,105 would take 39% of that.
How much is rent in Brunswick, GA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Brunswick, GA are $1,035 for a studio, $1,105 for one bedroom, $1,293 for two bedrooms and $1,550 for three bedrooms, including utilities.