Is $61,000 a good salary in Georgia?

$61,000 in Georgia provides a monthly take-home of approximately $3,981 after taxes. Across major Georgia cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,780.

What is the cost of living on $61,000 in Georgia?

The average monthly living cost across major Georgia cities is approximately $2,201 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $61,000 take-home pay of $3,981/month, you would have roughly $1,780/month remaining.

Living in Georgia · 2026

Is $61,000 enough to live in Georgia?

Single adult · GA · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$3,981

Avg monthly expenses

$2,201

Avg monthly surplus

$1,780

Savings potential

~45%

After-tax take-home in Georgia

Gross salary$61,000

Federal income tax− $5,214

State income tax− $3,349

Social Security− $3,782

Medicare− $885

Annual take-home$47,770

Effective tax rate21.69%

How $61,000 feels in Georgia cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Atlanta

COL index: 1.29× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,850

Food

$493

Transport

$226

Utilities

$213

Healthcare

$258

Total: $3,040/mo

Surplus: $941/mo

Rent burden: 46.5% — High (35–50%)

Full Atlanta analysis →

Savannah

COL index: 1.05× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$440

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,357/mo

Surplus: $1,624/mo

Rent burden: 33.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Savannah analysis →

Augusta

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $2,044/mo

Rent burden: 26.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Augusta analysis →

Columbus

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $2,009/mo

Surplus: $1,972/mo

Rent burden: 27.6% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Columbus analysis →

Macon

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$374

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,783/mo

Surplus: $2,198/mo

Rent burden: 23.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Macon analysis →

Athens

COL index: 0.95× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,150

Food

$418

Transport

$166

Utilities

$157

Healthcare

$190

Total: $2,081/mo

Surplus: $1,900/mo

Rent burden: 28.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Athens analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $3,981 ($47,772/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,991

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$1,194

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$796

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$23,886

Wants / year

$14,332

Savings / year

$9,554

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Atlanta

Rent would consume 46% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.7/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $61,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Atlanta, Georgia, with approximately $941/month (~24% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Atlanta's above-average cost of living (index: 1.29) means $61,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $47,287 in an average-cost US city, or $55,798 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$61,000 is 46% above the Georgia individual median ($41,800) and 9% above the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$41,800

+46%

State household median

$71,355

-15%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$61,000 vs. Georgia income benchmarks

Individual median (Georgia)

$41,800

+46% vs. this salary

Household median (Georgia)

$71,355

-15% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Georgia

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.