26 Best Georgia Cities To Retire on $2,600 a Month

There’s good news for retirees with a monthly budget of $2,600. The state of Georgia offers plenty of cities where you can enjoy a comfortable retirement on a fixed income.

To determine which Georgia cities are the best to retire on $2,600 or less a month, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census American Community Survey to find each city’s total population, population aged 65 and over, median household income and total households. Additional factors cited include cost-of-living indexes, the average single-family home value, average mortgage cost, average expenditure costs and livability index. The total monthly cost of living was calculated for each city along with the total cost of living after Social Security benefits. Each city also received a rank within the data from No. 1 to 218. For the purposes of this article, we are only including cities that rank between No. 1 to 50 and have a total monthly cost of living at $2,600 and under.

In order from highest monthly total cost of living to lowest, retirees with a $2,600 monthly budget may consider retiring in these 26 Georgia cities.

• Livability: 64
• Population total: 1,462
• Number of population aged 65+: 273
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 18.7%
• Total households: 464
• Median household income: $41,500
• Average home value (April 2024): $127,041
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $763
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,833
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,596
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $731

• Livability: 68
• Population total: 2,131
• Number of population aged 65+: 426
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 20.0%
• Total households: 895
• Median household income: $26,125
• Average home value (April 2024): $136,552
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $820
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,758
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,578
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $713

• Livability: 68
• Population total: 768
• Number of population aged 65+: 186
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 24.2%
• Total households: 294
• Median household income: $63,182
• Average home value (April 2024): $121,680
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $731
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,831
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,562
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $697

• Livability: 64
• Population total: 68,926
• Number of population aged 65+: 10,682
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 15.5%
• Total households: 27,709
• Median household income: $43,724
• Average home value (April 2024): $127,270
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $764
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,796
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,560
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $696

• Livability: 70
• Population total: 793
• Number of population aged 65+: 236
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 29.8%
• Total households: 394
• Median household income: $30,333
• Average home value (April 2024): $126,764
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $761
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,795
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,557
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $692

• Livability: 65
• Population total: 1,251
• Number of population aged 65+: 185
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 14.8%
• Total households: 462
• Median household income: n/a
• Average home value (April 2024): $131,472
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $790
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,766
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,555
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $691

• Livability: 65
• Population total: 2,824
• Number of population aged 65+: 548
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 19.4%
• Total households: 1,040
• Median household income: $37,433
• Average home value (April 2024): $128,711
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $773
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,758
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,531
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $666

• Livability: 66
• Population total: 4,075
• Number of population aged 65+: 466
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 11.4%
• Total households: 1,478
• Median household income: $35,208
• Average home value (April 2024): $128,028
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $769
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,739
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,508
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $644

• Livability: 62
• Population total: 14,533
• Number of population aged 65+: 2,507
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 17.3%
• Total households: 5,745
• Median household income: $41,228
• Average home value (April 2024): $134,030
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $805
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,702
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,507
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $643

• Livability: 61
• Population total: 2,618
• Number of population aged 65+: 668
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 25.5%
• Total households: 957
• Median household income: $36,682
• Average home value (April 2024): $128,027
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $769
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,731
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,500
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $636

• Livability: 60
• Population total: 4,627
• Number of population aged 65+: 820
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 17.7%
• Total households: 1,838
• Median household income: $38,562
• Average home value (April 2024): $132,847
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $798
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,700
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,498
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $633

• Livability: 65
• Population total: 2,459
• Number of population aged 65+: 163
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 6.6%
• Total households: 613
• Median household income: $37,226
• Average home value (April 2024): $119,071
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $715
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,760
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,476
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $611

• Livability: 71
• Population total: 5,727
• Number of population aged 65+: 971
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 17.0%
• Total households: 2,083
• Median household income: $45,502
• Average home value (April 2024): $130,426
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $783
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,679
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,462
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $597

• Livability: 63
• Population total: 1,302
• Number of population aged 65+: 113
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 8.7%
• Total households: 418
• Median household income: $43,269
• Average home value (April 2024): $123,615
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $742
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,710
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,453
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $588

• Livability: 63
• Population total: 2,905
• Number of population aged 65+: 528
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 18.2%
• Total households: 1,068
• Median household income: $28,607
• Average home value (April 2024): $107,718
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $647
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,801
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,448
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $583

• Livability: 63
• Population total: 3,338
• Number of population aged 65+: 555
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 16.6%
• Total households: 1,216
• Median household income: $33,208
• Average home value (April 2024): $115,351
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $693
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,751
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,443
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $579

• Livability: 60
• Population total: 2,049
• Number of population aged 65+: 538
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 26.3%
• Total households: 746
• Median household income: $29,815
• Average home value (April 2024): $120,093
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $721
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,716
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,438
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $573

• Livability: 61
• Population total: 992
• Number of population aged 65+: 279
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 28.1%
• Total households: 429
• Median household income: $27,404
• Average home value (April 2024): $108,921
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $654
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,769
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,424
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $559

• Livability: 67
• Population total: 968
• Number of population aged 65+: 225
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 23.2%
• Total households: 294
• Median household income: $40,500
• Average home value (April 2024): $92,276
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $554
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,869
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,423
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $559

• Livability: 65
• Population total: 4,223
• Number of population aged 65+: 850
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 20.1%
• Total households: 1,589
• Median household income: $35,987
• Average home value (April 2024): $113,708
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $683
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,734
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,417
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $553

• Livability: 67
• Population total: 781
• Number of population aged 65+: 162
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 20.7%
• Total households: 235
• Median household income: $36,138
• Average home value (April 2024): $109,219
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $656
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,759
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,415
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $550

• Livability: 61
• Population total: 1,826
• Number of population aged 65+: 191
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 10.5%
• Total households: 714
• Median household income: $30,455
• Average home value (April 2024): $112,722
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $677
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,732
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,409
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $544

• Livability: 62
• Population total: 1,229
• Number of population aged 65+: 290
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 23.6%
• Total households: 392
• Median household income: $36,250
• Average home value (April 2024): $94,376
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $567
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,776
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,343
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $478

• Livability: 66
• Population total: 3,040
• Number of population aged 65+: 536
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 17.6%
• Total households: 1,185
• Median household income: $46,315
• Average home value (April 2024): $91,677
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $551
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,783
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,333
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $469

• Livability: 63
• Population total: 1,141
• Number of population aged 65+: 173
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 15.2%
• Total households: 465
• Median household income: $43,750
• Average home value (April 2024): $85,015
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $511
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,770
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,280
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $416

• Livability: 66
• Population total: 1,127
• Number of population aged 65+: 250
• Percentage of population aged 65+: 22.2%
• Total households: 290
• Median household income: $31,429
• Average home value (April 2024): $92,571
• Average monthly mortgage cost: $556
• Average monthly expenditure cost: $1,722
• Total monthly cost of living: $2,278
• Total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits: $413

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across Georgia to find the best places to retire on less than $2,600 a month. First GOBankingRates found cities in Georgia by using the U.S. Census American Community Survey along with the total population, population aged 65 and over, median household income, and total households. For each city a number of factors were found including; cost-of-living indexes as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, average single family home value as sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index for April 2024, and livability index as sourced from AreaVibes. By assuming a 10% down payment and using the national 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the national average expenditure costs for retired residents, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure costs for each city can be calculated. Using the expenditure costs and the mortgage cost the total monthly cost of living can be calculated for each city. Using the average Social Security Benefits for retired residents aged 65 and higher, as sourced from the Social Security Administration, the total cost of living after Social Security benefits can be calculated. All cities over $2,600 were removed for this study. The livability index was scored and weighted at 1.75, the expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the best places to retire on less than $2,600 a month. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 31, 2024.

Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city outside of the city/county mentioned in the article was used.