Cost of Living in Gainesville, GA
Gainesville, GA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
96.8
U.S. average = 100 · #133 of 387
Median wage
$45,900
all jobs · $3,108/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,381
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Gainesville, GA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Gainesville, GA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.8 | −3.2% |
| Housing | 93.5 | −6.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 89.6 | −10.4% |
| Other services | 98.7 | −1.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Gainesville, GA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,177 | $47,080/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,381 | $55,240/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,514 | $60,560/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,834 | $73,360/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,127 | $85,080/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Gainesville, GA
Your take-home pay
$37,301
per year · effective tax rate 18.7%
$3,108Monthly
$1,554Twice a month
$1,435Every 2 weeks
$17.93Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,328
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,846
- Medicare (1.45%)$666
- Georgia income tax$1,759
- Take-home pay$37,301
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Highest-paying jobs in Gainesville, GA
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gainesville, GA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Gainesville, GA metro area are 96.8% of the U.S. average, with housing at 93.5%. It is the #133 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Gainesville, GA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,060 in Gainesville, GA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,900.
How much is rent in Gainesville, GA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Gainesville, GA are $1,177 for a studio, $1,381 for one bedroom, $1,514 for two bedrooms and $1,834 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Gainesville, GA
Management Occupations
- Managers, All Other — $98,660
- General and Operations Manager — $95,710
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,200
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $74,470
- Human Resources Specialist — $63,330
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $64,780
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,950
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,500
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $28,360
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $41,910
- Nursing Assistant — $41,390
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $31,200
Protective Service Occupations
- Firefighter — $46,870
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,270
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,310
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,950
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,690
- Waiter and Waitress — $17,980
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,880
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $33,350
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $68,520
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $57,270
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,180
- Retail Salesperson — $31,870
- Cashier — $29,320
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $62,760
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,430
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,360
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $45,060
- Office Clerks, General — $39,790
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $39,320
- Customer Service Representative — $39,310
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $36,910
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,730
- Construction Laborer — $38,280
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,840
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $55,330
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,350
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $69,640
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,430
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $43,180
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $40,820
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,520
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — $39,420
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,420
- Slaughterer and Meat Packer — $35,680
- Food Processing Workers, All Other — $35,670
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,800
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $56,770
- Light Truck Driver — $48,010
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $39,980
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,930
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,180
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $34,400