Gainesville, GA vs St. Marys, GA

St. Marys is moderately more affordable than Gainesville, with a 9.7% lower cost of living index. Gainesville scores 99 compared to 90 for St. Marys, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gainesville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gainesville is $1,234/month compared to $1,171/month in St. Marys — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Marys is more affordable at $259,300 median vs $337,000.

Median household income in Gainesville is $64,636 compared to $67,271 in St. Marys (-3.9%). St. Marys offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gainesville spend roughly 22.9% of their income on rent, more than the 20.9% in St. Marys.