Retire in Georgia: Cost, Taxes & FIRE Number for 2026
Retiring in Georgia costs about $51,500 a year on average, earning a B+ retirement tax grade and a #38 healthcare ranking. Here's the full breakdown — cost, taxes, and how much you actually need saved.
What It Costs to Retire in Georgia
The average retiree in Georgia spends about $51,500 a year ($4,292/month), based on BLS spending data for households 65 and older, adjusted for Georgia's cost of living. That works out to a standard retirement number of $1,287,500 under the 4% rule, or $1.47M for early retirees using the more conservative 3.5% FIRE withdrawal rate.
How the numbers below are calculated:
Annual cost = BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (65+ household spending) × Georgia's cost-of-living index (MERIC Q3 2025).
Standard Retirement Number = Annual Cost ÷ 0.04 (4% rule, ~30-year horizon)
FIRE Number = Annual Cost ÷ 0.035 (3.5% rule, 40–50+ year horizon for early retirees)
Georgia earns a B+ retirement tax grade from Plootus Research and ranks #38 of 50 states for healthcare quality. Combined with an average annual salary of $62,400 for working residents (median $51,740), that gives a fuller picture of what building — and eventually spending down — a nest egg looks like here.
Georgia Retirement Snapshot
| Metric | Georgia |
|---|---|
| Average annual retirement cost | $51,500/yr |
| Average monthly retirement cost | $4,292/mo |
| Standard retirement number (4% rule) | $1,287,500 |
| FIRE number (3.5% rule) | $1.47M |
| Retirement tax grade | B+ |
| State income tax | 5.49% flat |
| Social Security tax | No tax — fully exempt |
| Healthcare quality rank | #38 of 50 |
| FIRE-friendliness rating | ★★★★☆ |
| Average annual salary (working residents) | $62,400 |
| Median annual salary (working residents) | $51,740 |
Sources: BLS CES 2024 (65+); MERIC Q3 2025; BLS OEWS May 2024; Plootus Research 2026.
Your Georgia-Adjusted Retirement Number
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How Georgia Compares to Nearby States
| State | Annual Cost | Retirement Number | Tax Grade | HC Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia (this page) | $51,500 | $1,287,500 | B+ | #38 |
| South Carolina | $48,000 | $1,200,000 | B | #40 |
| Tennessee | $47,500 | $1,187,500 | A | #44 |
| North Carolina | $51,000 | $1,275,000 | B+ | #25 |
→ Run a full side-by-side comparison in the State Comparison Tool
How Georgia Treats Retirees on Taxes and Healthcare
Georgia carries a B+ retirement tax grade from Plootus Research — a relatively tax-friendly state for retirees, driven by a full Social Security exemption and a generous $65,000-per-person retirement income exclusion for residents 65 and older.
State Income Tax
Georgia uses a 5.49% flat income tax rate. Residents 65+ can exclude up to $65,000 of retirement income per person from state taxes — so most retirees owe little to nothing on their retirement income.
Social Security Tax
Georgia fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax. Combined with the $65,000 exclusion, most Georgia retirees face minimal state income tax on their retirement income.
Georgia ranks #38 nationally for healthcare — below average. Metro Atlanta has strong hospital networks (Emory, Piedmont, WellStar), but rural Georgia faces significant access challenges. Retirees should factor location carefully when evaluating healthcare access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Georgia earns a B+ retirement tax grade and ranks #38 of 50 for healthcare quality. Average annual retirement spending runs about $51,500, requiring roughly $1,287,500 in savings under the standard 4% withdrawal rule. Georgia's 5.49% flat income tax is offset by a full Social Security exemption and a $65,000-per-person retirement income exclusion for residents 65+.
No. Georgia fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax. Residents 65 and older also benefit from a $65,000-per-person exclusion on other retirement income sources such as pensions and IRA withdrawals — meaning couples can shelter up to $130,000 combined from Georgia income tax.
Using the standard 4% rule, retiring in Georgia on its average annual cost of $51,500 requires approximately $1,287,500 in savings. That figure excludes Social Security, which most retirees layer on top to reduce the amount they need from their own portfolio.
At a 3.5% safe withdrawal rate — the more conservative rate recommended for early retirees facing a 40–50+ year horizon — Georgia's FIRE number is approximately $1.47M, based on its $51,500/year average cost. Early retirees should also budget separately for healthcare before Medicare eligibility at 65.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (65+ age group)
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), Cost of Living Index Q3 2025
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024
- Kiplinger, Retirement Taxes 2026; WalletHub Best States to Retire 2026
- Plootus Research 2026 (tax grades, healthcare rank, FIRE ratings)
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