F
35%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
118%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Dunwoody Georgia National
Cost of living13595100
Goods & Services9797100
Groceries10198100
Health care9898100
Housing21888100
Transportation10498100
Utilities102100100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Dunwoody, GA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Dunwoody is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Dunwoody is 135, which is 35% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Dunwoody may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Dunwoody falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

When it comes to the cost of living in Dunwoody, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 118.3% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Dunwoody?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 6 residents in Dunwoody to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 33% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 67% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Dunwoody Affordable?

Is Dunwoody an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Dunwoody is 145.8% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 54.4% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Dunwoody has a median household income of $143,058, which is 75.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Dunwoody?

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Dunwoody, the transportation index stands at 3.9% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Dunwoody, the groceries index is 1.4% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Dunwoody, healthcare costs are 1.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Dunwoody cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Dunwoody is 43% higher than the Georgia average
  • The cost of living in Dunwoody is 35% higher than the national average
  • Dunwoody housing is 118% higher than the national average
  • Georgia general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Georgia state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Dunwoody

See all the best places to live around Dunwoody

Compare Dunwoody, GA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$214,455$17,871$5,004$6,434
      Renters$101,702$8,475$2,373$3,051
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Dunwoody, GA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Dunwoody, the median monthly income is $214,455 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $5,004 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $101,702, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $2,373 on monthly rental expenses.

      Georgia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Georgia 4% 8%

      Georgia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Georgia 1% 5.57%

      Goods & Services

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.03$27.628.7%
      Beauty Salon $54.03$51.115.7%
      Toothpaste $4.34$4.096.0%
      Shampoo $1.54$1.540.1%
      Movie $15.89$12.8823.4%
      Yoga $24.17$19.6622.9%

      Groceries

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.84$7.701.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.669.8%
      Milk $4.72$4.730.3%
      Potatoes $5.36$5.262.0%
      Pizza $12.01$12.765.9%
      Beer $10.87$10.553.0%

      Health Care

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.93$140.067.9%
      Doctor $137.33$153.8210.7%
      Dentist $141.59$123.1515.0%
      Ibuprofen $11.68$11.730.4%
      Lipitor $18.14$23.6123.2%

      Housing

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      Home Price $802,723.00$326,622.00145.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,976.69$2,480.2520.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,229.00$1,444.0054.4%

      Transportation

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.93$3.064.3%
      Tire Balancing $80.82$65.2123.9%

      Utilities

      Item Dunwoody National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.98$220.123.6%
      Phone $195.76$195.710.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stone Mountain, GA6,567954.9%
      Redan, GA35,746964.4%
      Fair Oaks, GA9,671973.3%
      Candler-McAfee, GA25,351973.2%
      Clarkston, GA13,147972.9%
      Dunwoody, GA51,07613535.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Twin Falls, ID51,144945.7%
      Texas City, TX50,965936.7%
      Mishawaka, IN51,2308812.0%
      North Bethesda, MD51,23816262.1%
      Haldimand County, ON50,912n/a 
      Dunwoody, GA51,07613535.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.