Bethlehem, GA vs Ellijay, GA

Ellijay is moderately more affordable than Bethlehem, with a 7.7% lower cost of living index. Bethlehem scores 86 compared to 80 for Ellijay, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Bethlehem can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bethlehem is $1,042/month compared to $728/month in Ellijay — a 43% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ellijay has cheaper rent, Bethlehem actually has lower median home values ($236,800 vs $277,600).

Median household income in Bethlehem is $70,000 compared to $47,639 in Ellijay (+46.9%). While Bethlehem is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bethlehem spend roughly 17.9% of their income on rent, less than the 18.3% in Ellijay.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (61.9°F vs 60.8°F). Ellijay receives more rainfall at 48.1" per year compared to 47.7" in Bethlehem.