Gwinnett County, GA vs Catoosa County, GA: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Catoosa County, GA is cheaper than Gwinnett County, GA.

Moving to Catoosa County, GA is estimated to save $16,431 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Catoosa County, GASave about $16,431 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Gwinnett County, GA is about $38,020 in Catoosa County, GA.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $47 per year. Housing saves $7,918 per year.

Housing: $7,918 lower in Catoosa County, GA

Taxes: $5,471 lower in Catoosa County, GA

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $509 lower in Catoosa County, GA

Food: $93 lower in Catoosa County, GA

Transport: $47 higher in Catoosa County, GA

Gwinnett County, GACatoosa County, GA
Equivalent salary in Catoosa County, GA
$38,020
-23.96% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Gwinnett County, GA: $97,369
Median Income in Catoosa County, GA: $84,256
Living Index in Gwinnett County, GA 70.42%
Living Index in Catoosa County, GA 61.88%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Gwinnett County, GA to Catoosa 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 Gwinnett County, GA to Catoosa County, GA is estimated to save $16,431 per year. A $50,000 salary in Gwinnett County, GA would have similar purchasing power to about $38,020 in Catoosa County, GA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -23.96% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,918 per year lower (-37.98%); Taxes is $5,471 per year lower (-33.83%).

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 Gwinnett County, GA and Catoosa County, GA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Gwinnett County, GA would need to be about $38,020 in Catoosa County, GA, or $11,980 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 70.4% of median family income in Gwinnett County, GA and 61.9% in Catoosa County, GA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $7,918 per year lower in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett County, GA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Catoosa County, GA changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $93 per year lower in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett County, GA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Catoosa County, GA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $47 per year higher in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett 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 Catoosa County, GA.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $509 per year lower in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett County, GA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Catoosa County, GA changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $2,488 per year lower in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett County, GA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Catoosa County, GA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

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

Taxes

Taxes is $5,471 per year lower in Catoosa County, GA than in Gwinnett County, GA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Catoosa 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 Catoosa County, GA.

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

$47 per year

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

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

$7,918 per year

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

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-38% lower
Food-2% lower
Transport0% higher
Healthcare-8% lower
Other Costs-32% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-34% lower

In Catoosa County, GA, modeled annual costs are $52,136 compared with $68,567 in Gwinnett County, GA.

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

In this case Catoosa County, GA and Gwinnett County, GA are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Gwinnett County, GA vs Catoosa County, GA Cost of Living (2026)