Ray City, GA vs Iva, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Iva, SC has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% higher than Ray City, GA.

Ray City, GA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / month
Iva, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$940 / 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 Ray City, GA and Iva, SC 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $66.40/month in Iva, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,797 in Iva, SC

Regional cost estimates: Ray City, GA uses Jacksonville, FL. Iva, SC uses Atlanta, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.8%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$66.40
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$797
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.

Ray City, GA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$218K

Iva, SC

Population:1K
Cost Index:
75.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$211K

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Ray City, GA

The Peach State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Iva, SC

The Palmetto State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Ray City, GA vs Iva, SC

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.

Groceries
↓ 11.0%
Ray City, GA
$1,169
Iva, SC
$1,040
Difference
$129
less
Housing
↑ 6.2%
Ray City, GA
$2,038
Iva, SC
$2,164
Difference
$126
more
Other
↑ 5.9%
Ray City, GA
$1,665
Iva, SC
$1,763
Difference
$98.95
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.7%
Ray City, GA
$658
Iva, SC
$634
Difference
$24.14
less
Healthcare
↓ 2.4%
Ray City, GA
$654
Iva, SC
$638
Difference
$15.60
less
Transportation
↑ 0.8%
Ray City, GA
$1,316
Iva, SC
$1,326
Difference
$10.14
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$880
To$790
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$890
To$810
↓ $80.00
2 Bed
From$1,160
To$940
↓ $220
3 Bed
From$1,580
To$1,230
↓ $350
Ray City, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$890/mo

Iva, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$810/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 Ray City, GA
$7,566
Monthly in Iva, SC
$66.40
Difference

Home Values

Ray City
Iva
$218K
Median Value
$211K
↑ +3.7%
YoY Change
↓ -3.8%
↑ +54.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.6%

Homes in Iva are 3% less expensive than Ray City

Calculate payment - Ray CityCalculate payment - Iva

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$125
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Ray City, 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

Iva, SC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Carolina State Tax
Effective: 6.6%
$10.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.3%
$47.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,586/month
$103.0K

Additional Tax Information

Ray City, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%
Property Tax:0.9%

Iva, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Ray City
Iva
50 Good
Air Quality
50 Good
51.9%
Good Air Days
50.8%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Ray City, GA to Iva, SC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Iva, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Ray City, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Ray City to Iva moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Ray City, GA vs Iva, SC

How do the cost estimates for Ray City, GA and Iva, SC compare?

Iva, SC has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% higher than Ray City, 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 Ray City, GA, the model estimates $150,797 in Iva, SC. 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 Ray City, GA and Iva, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,160/month in Ray City, GA and $940/month in Iva, SC. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Georgia and South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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