Alabama
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
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Alabama vs Georgia
Alabama is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alabama, Georgia has higher incomes, Alabama has lower state income tax, and Georgia gets more sunshine.
Alabama
AL · South
13 / 31
metrics won
VS
Georgia
GA · South
18 / 31
metrics won
Winner
AL wins Housing
GA wins Quality of Life
GA wins Climate
GA wins Income
GA wins Demographics
AL wins Taxes
AL 13
18 GA
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Georgia fits you better
Georgia wins 18 of 31 scored metrics against Alabama.
Your match — Saving Money
Alabama is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 88.6 in Alabama vs 93.4 in Georgia. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Alabama is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.18x in Alabama vs 3.88x in Georgia. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
Alabama looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 2.7% in Alabama vs 3.6% in Georgia. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Georgia is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 63.5°F in Georgia vs 62.8°F in Alabama. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
Georgia looks better for families
Georgia wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, bachelor's degree, compared with Alabama. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Georgia
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Montgomery
vs
Atlanta
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Swing State
Population
5,223,121
11,401,288
Median Income
$54,943
$71,355
Cost of Living
88.6
93.4
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$277,000
Property Tax
0.38%
0.77%
State Income Tax
5.00%
5.49%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
$7.25/hr
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$3.716/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
14.46 c/kWh
Livability Score
47.01
51.59
Average Temperature
62.8°F
63.5°F
Sunny Days
99 days
112 days
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
59,425 sq mi
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
191.9 per sq mi
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
January 2, 1788 (#4)
Population
5,223,121
11,401,288
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
191.9 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
28.9%
35.4%
Advanced Degree
11.3%
14.1%
Net Domestic Migration
+23,400
+27,300
Population Growth Since 2020
+3.9%
+6.4%
Livability Score
47.01
51.59
Best State to Live In
47.01
51.59
Cost of Living
88.6
93.4
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$3.716/gal
Gas Tax
29.00 c/gal
31.20 c/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
14.46 c/kWh
Commute Time
25.0 min
28.2 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,029/yr
$2,287/yr
Average Credit Score
689
692
Average Temperature
62.8°F
63.5°F
Summer Temperature
78.6°F
78.7°F
Winter Temperature
46.5°F
47.8°F
Sunny Days
99 days
112 days
Annual Precipitation
58.3 in
50.7 in
Average Wind Speed
6.3 mph
6.7 mph
Lightning Density
110.7 per sq mi
105.1 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$277,000
Median Gross Rent
$925/mo
$1,211/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$1,500/mo
$1,909/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$469/mo
$575/mo
Homeownership Rate
69.6%
65.8%
Home Value to Income Ratio
3.18x
3.88x
Rent to Income Ratio
20.2%
20.4%
Owner Costs to Income
14.8%
16.7%
Home Insurance Cost
$4,637/yr
$2,261/yr
State Income Tax
5.00%
5.49%
State Sales Tax
4.00%
4.00%
Property Tax
0.38%
0.77%
Total Tax Burden
7.93%
8.15%
Grocery Tax Rate
3% (Reduced)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
No State Death Tax
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
Yes
vs
Special
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Swing State
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +30.47
Rep +2.18
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Battleground
Governor Party
Republican
vs
Republican
State House Control
Republican
vs
Republican
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Republican
Trifecta
Republican Trifecta
vs
Republican Trifecta
Electoral Votes
9
16
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
Control State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Medical
vs
Medical
Minimum Marriage Age
16
17
Gun Ownership
55.5%
40.3%
Abortion Law Status
Total Ban (Banned)
vs
Banned at 6-12 Weeks (6 weeks)
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
vs
Yes
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
59,425 sq mi
Highest Point
Cheaha Mountain (2,413 ft)
Brasstown Bald (4,784 ft)
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
January 2, 1788 (#4)
Capital City
Montgomery
vs
Atlanta
Region
South
vs
South
Life Expectancy
73.2 yrs
75.2 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
34.9
40.0
Uninsured Rate
8.5%
11.4%
Obesity Rate
38.9%
35.4%
Healthcare Quality Score
44.4
36.9
Infant Mortality Rate
7.06 per 1,000
6.40 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
25.0 per 100,000
18.1 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
447.8 per 100k
340.3 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
1733.9 per 100k
1753.1 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
1
2
Casinos
3 (Wind Creek Atmore)
0
UFO Sightings per 100,000
28.0 per 100K
29.9 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Toyota
vs
Toyota
K-12 Education Rank
#47
#31
High School Graduation Rate
91.0%
84.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
15.4:1
School Spending
$13,598
$15,833
Teacher Salary
$62,985
$71,524
Public School Ranking
#43
#17
Student Loan Debt
$37,819
$42,226
College Graduation Rate
46.9%
40.9%
Median Income
$54,943
$71,355
Regional Price Parity
87.2
93.4
Purchasing Power of $100
$114.62
$111.01
Poverty Rate
15.6%
13.6%
Employment/Population Ratio
55.8%
60.6%
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
3.6%
Job Growth
0.5%
0.1%
Infant Childcare Cost
$7,871/yr
$11,863/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$85,280/yr
$99,590/yr
Water Quality Score
84.1/100 (A)
84.8/100 (A)
Annual Power Outage Hours
4.7 hours/yr
20.5 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#4
#8
Renewable Electricity Share
3.3%
10.7%
Largest Airport
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM)
vs
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alabama
Pros
- Alabama has a lower overall cost of living.
- Alabama has a lower housing cost index.
- Alabama has lower median home values.
- Alabama has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alabama job growth trend is stronger.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alabama shows lower median income.
- Alabama has a higher violent crime rate.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alabama education proxy is lower.
- Alabama has fewer sunny days.
Georgia
Pros
- Georgia shows higher median income.
- Georgia has a lower violent crime rate.
- Georgia health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Georgia education proxy is higher.
- Georgia has more sunny days.
Cons
- Georgia has a higher overall cost of living.
- Georgia has a higher housing cost index.
- Georgia has higher median home values.
- Georgia has higher property tax rates on average.
- Georgia job growth trend is weaker.
- Georgia health coverage access proxy is weaker.
People also ask
Alabama vs Georgia — common questions
QIs Alabama cheaper to live in than Georgia?
Alabama has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alabama scores 88.6 versus 93.4 for Georgia - a gap of 4.8 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - Alabama or Georgia?
$100 goes further in Alabama. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $114.62 in Alabama, compared with $111.01 in Georgia.
QWhich state is bigger - Alabama or Georgia?
Georgia is larger, covering 59,425 sq mi compared with 52,419 sq mi for Alabama - roughly 1.1x the size.
QDoes Alabama or Georgia have more people?
Georgia has the larger population at 11,401,288, compared with 5,223,121 in Alabama.
QWhich state has higher household income - Alabama or Georgia?
Georgia has the higher median household income at $71,355, versus $54,943 in Alabama.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - Alabama or Georgia?
Alabama has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 5.49% in Georgia.
QIs housing cheaper in Alabama or Georgia?
Homes are cheaper in Alabama, where the median home value is $174,600, versus $277,000 in Georgia.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Alabama or Georgia?
Georgia is more densely populated at 191.9 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alabama is more spread out at 99.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related comparisons
Methodology
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.