Decatur, GA vs Clarkston, GA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Clarkston, GA has a modeled overall cost index 1.2% lower than Decatur, GA.

Decatur, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,730 / month
Clarkston, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,580 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Decatur, GA and Clarkston, GA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Decatur, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $78.66/month in Clarkston, GA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,056 in Clarkston, GA

Regional cost estimates: Decatur, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Clarkston, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$78.66

Savings

Annual Impact

$944

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Decatur, GA

Population:24K

Cost Index:

99.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$230K

Clarkston, GA

Population:14K

Cost Index:

97.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$245K

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Decatur, GA

The Peach State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Clarkston, GA

The Peach State

14K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Decatur, GA vs Clarkston, GA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Decatur, GA	Clarkston, GA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,231/mo	$2,204/mo	↓ $27.16less	1.2%
Other	$1,818/mo	$1,796/mo	↓ $22.13less	1.2%
Transportation	$1,367/mo	$1,351/mo	↓ $16.65less	1.2%
Groceries	$937/mo	$932/mo	↓ $5.72less	0.6%
Healthcare	$575/mo	$572/mo	↓ $3.51less	0.6%
All Utilities	$571/mo	$568/mo	↓ $3.49less	0.6%

Housing

↓ 1.2%

Decatur, GA

$2,231

Clarkston, GA

$2,204

Difference

$27.16

less

Other

↓ 1.2%

Decatur, GA

$1,818

Clarkston, GA

$1,796

Difference

$22.13

less

Transportation

↓ 1.2%

Decatur, GA

$1,367

Clarkston, GA

$1,351

Difference

$16.65

less

Groceries

↓ 0.6%

Decatur, GA

$937

Clarkston, GA

$932

Difference

$5.72

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.6%

Decatur, GA

$575

Clarkston, GA

$572

Difference

$3.51

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.6%

Decatur, GA

$571

Clarkston, GA

$568

Difference

$3.49

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,510

To$1,380

↓ $130

1 Bed

From$1,580

To$1,440

↓ $140

2 Bed

From$1,730

To$1,580

↓ $150

3 Bed

From$2,070

To$1,890

↓ $180

Decatur, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,410–$2,130/mo

Clarkston, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,440–$1,440/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Decatur, GA

$7,421

Monthly in Clarkston, GA

$78.66

Difference

Home Values

Decatur

Clarkston

$230K

Median Value

$245K

↓ -7%

YoY Change

↓ -5.5%

↑ +23.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +36.1%

$220K - $620K

Price Range

$245K

Homes in Clarkston are 6% more expensive than Decatur

Calculate payment - Decatur Calculate payment - Clarkston

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Decatur, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

Clarkston, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

Additional Tax Information

Decatur, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

Clarkston, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Decatur

Clarkston

50 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

50.8%

Good Air Days

50.8%

96 High

Climate Risk

96 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Decatur, GA to Clarkston, GA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Clarkston, GA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Decatur, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Decatur to Clarkston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Clarkston, GA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Decatur, GA vs Clarkston, GA

How do the cost estimates for Decatur, GA and Clarkston, GA compare?

Clarkston, GA has a modeled overall cost index 1.2% lower than Decatur, GA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Decatur, GA, the model estimates $149,056 in Clarkston, GA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Decatur, GA and Clarkston, GA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,730/month in Decatur, GA and $1,580/month in Clarkston, GA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.