City Comparison

Macon vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Macon

Georgia
76
Very Affordable
$194,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$47,000
Median Income

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

32.7%

Macon is 32.7% less expensive than Roswell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Macon would need approximately $111,513 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
44
Macon
187
Roswell
Groceries
101
Macon
101
Roswell
Utilities
102
Macon
98
Roswell
Transportation
89
Macon
110
Roswell
Healthcare
106
Macon
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Macon has the same purchasing power as $111,513 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $50,442 in Macon.

Living in Macon vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Macon's housing index of 44 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $194,000 vs $647,000. The $453,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Macon compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $650.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Macon and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Macon vs $480/month in Roswell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Macon and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Macon vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Macon and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $47,000 in Macon and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,842 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,097/month to housing in Macon vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Macon, median rent of $1,050/mo fits within this budget. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 143 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Macon is 32.7% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Macon has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $111,513 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Macon's housing index is 44 with median homes at $194,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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