Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP

Dalton, GA

Cost-of-living indicators for Dalton, GA, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.

Reviewed byPlaincost Editorial, Cost Of Living Editorial Team · June 8, 2026

89.8
Overall RPP: #292
of 387 metros: 63.3
Rents RPP: $111K
$100K national buys

The verdict

Dalton costs less than 75% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 89.8, 10.2% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 63.3.

89.8
overall cost index (US average = 100): #292
most expensive of 387 U.S. metros: bottom 25%
by overall cost, nationwide: 63.3
rents RPP — the biggest budget swing

A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $111,304 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $89,844.

What the Numbers Mean for Dalton

Dalton ranks #292 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 89.8, Dalton, GA is 10.2% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Dalton's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 63.3 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.

Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $111,304 inside Dalton, while a household needs roughly $89,844 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 63.3 — 36.7% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.

Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Dalton's overall index has stayed within 0.6 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.3 and services at 88.8, meaning everyday spending in Dalton is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.

Dalton vs every U.S. metro

Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution

90 Top 75% higher than 25% of 387 US metros

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024

Rents

63.3
Services

88.8
Overall

89.8
Goods

96.3

What this shows Dalton's gap from the national average is led by rents at 63.3. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.

Goods vs. housing — where Dalton's cost comes from

Metros near Dalton's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.

Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 94.3, rents 64.3). Dalton is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Dalton's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.

Price Index Summary

Overall

89.8

-10.2 below avg

Goods

96.3

-3.7 below avg

Services

88.8

-11.2 below avg

Rents

63.3

-36.7 below avg

Salary Equivalent

A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:

$89,844

in Dalton, GA purchasing power

$50,000 nationally

$44,922

$75,000 nationally

$67,383

$125,000 nationally

$112,305

$150,000 nationally

$134,766

$200,000 nationally

$179,688

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.

RPP History (2008-2024)

The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 0.6 points over this period.

Year	Overall	Goods	Services	Rents
2008	89.3	94.0	84.0	69.9
2009	85.2	91.1	82.3	62.3
2010	89.3	96.2	84.4	70.0
2011	87.5	94.2	88.9	62.9
2012	88.5	90.8	93.4	64.8
2013	87.9	93.2	92.5	59.6
2014	89.0	91.5	94.7	61.7
2015	88.7	90.9	95.6	64.0
2016	87.6	92.3	93.8	60.5
2017	85.3	91.6	94.8	53.9
2018	88.8	95.6	88.7	57.9
2019	87.6	95.4	90.6	58.4
2020	84.5	95.2	91.4	49.9
2021	90.7	95.8	90.7	62.5
2022	90.4	95.0	92.1	63.2
2023	90.4	96.3	87.7	62.9
2024	89.8	96.3	88.8	63.3

Metros with Similar Cost of Living

These metros have an overall RPP closest to Dalton, GA's index of 89.8.

Victoria, TX 89.8 El Paso, TX 89.9 Montgomery, AL 89.7 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS 90.0 Lima, OH 89.7 Kokomo, IN 89.6

Other GA Metros

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell 100.1 Gainesville 96.8 Savannah 95.2 Hinesville 93.9 Warner Robins 93.8 Athens-Clarke County 93.3

View all GA metros →

Compare to Other Metros

vs New York-Newark-Jersey City vs Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim vs Chicago-Naperville-Elgin vs Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington vs Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Custom Compare →

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Comparing Metro Areas

Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough

View all guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Dalton, GA? ▼

Dalton, GA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 89.8, meaning it is 10.2% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.3, services at 88.8, and rents at 63.3. It ranks #292 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.

What salary do I need in Dalton, GA to match $100K nationally? ▼

To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $89,844 in Dalton, GA. Conversely, $100K earned in Dalton, GA has the purchasing power of $111,304 at the national average.

How expensive is rent in Dalton, GA? ▼

Rents in Dalton, GA are indexed at 63.3, which is 36.7% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.

Is Dalton, GA getting more expensive? ▼

From 2008 to 2024, Dalton, GA's overall cost index changed by +0.6 points (from 89.3 to 89.8). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.

What metros have a similar cost of living to Dalton, GA? ▼

Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Victoria, El Paso, Montgomery. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Dalton, GA's 89.8.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.

Browse all → | Rankings →

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Federal data behind these figures

BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr