Fayette County, GA vs Randolph County, GA: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Randolph County, GA is cheaper than Fayette County, GA.

Moving to Randolph County, GA is estimated to save $27,853 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Randolph County, GASave about $27,853 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Fayette County, GA is about $30,515 in Randolph County, GA.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $306 per year. Housing saves $13,421 per year.

Housing: $13,421 lower in Randolph County, GA

Taxes: $8,626 lower in Randolph County, GA

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $1,023 lower in Randolph County, GA

Food: $704 lower in Randolph County, GA

Transport: $306 higher in Randolph County, GA

Fayette County, GARandolph County, GA
Equivalent salary in Randolph County, GA
$30,515
-38.97% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fayette County, GA: $124,983
Median Income in Randolph County, GA: $39,353
Living Index in Fayette County, GA 57.19%
Living Index in Randolph County, GA 110.85%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fayette County, GA to Randolph County, GA.

* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.

Cost of Living Breakdown by Category

Summary

Moving from Fayette County, GA to Randolph County, GA is estimated to save $27,853 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fayette County, GA would have similar purchasing power to about $30,515 in Randolph County, GA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -38.97% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,421 per year lower (-61.71%); Taxes is $8,626 per year lower (-50.2%).

Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.

Why this comparison matters

These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Fayette County, GA and Randolph County, GA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Fayette County, GA would need to be about $30,515 in Randolph County, GA, or $19,485 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 57.2% of median family income in Fayette County, GA and 110.9% in Randolph County, GA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $13,421 per year lower in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Randolph County, GA changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $704 per year lower in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Randolph County, GA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $306 per year higher in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Randolph County, GA.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $1,023 per year lower in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Randolph County, GA changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,385 per year lower in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Randolph County, GA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Fayette County, GA and Randolph County, GA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Randolph County, GA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $8,626 per year lower in Randolph County, GA than in Fayette County, GA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Randolph County, GA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.

What changed the most?

The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Randolph County, GA.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Randolph County, GA
Annual Increase:

$306 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Randolph County, GA.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Randolph County, GA
Annual Savings:

$13,421 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Randolph County, GA.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-62% lower
Food-15% lower
Transport2% higher
Healthcare-17% lower
Other Costs-54% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-50% lower

In Randolph County, GA, modeled annual costs are $43,623 compared with $71,476 in Fayette County, GA.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Randolph County, GA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Randolph County, GA is not a metropolitan location, while Fayette County, GA is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Fayette County, GA vs Randolph County, GA Cost of Living (2026)