Is Macon GA a Cheap Place to Live​? Pros, Cons & Affordability

Georgia is a dream place for many tourists but what about Macon GA? Macon is a place where beautiful scenery, one-of-a-kind attractions and scenic ways make your stay super beautiful.

Do you want to go to Macon in budget-friendly way but thinking about “is Macon GA a cheap place to live​?”

If you are considering going here in cost-effective way, we will guide you thoroughly in this blog post. Let’s discuss whether Macon is a cheap place to live or not. Keep reading!

Is Macon GA a Cheap Place to Live​?

As compared to Georgia’s average or national average, Macon is a cheap place to live. Also, it has low grocery, housing, transportation and other costs as compared to national average. 

Macon cost of living is 76.3 less expensive with 23.7% less than the national average & 19.3% than the Georgia average.

Macon has a smaller population size but as compared to other small population states or cities, Macon is much less expensive. Let’s breakdown the comparison cost of different cities with cost of living Macon, GA in the form of table.

In this table, you clearly see that Macon, Ga is less expensive as compared to other cities or states.

History of Macon City

Macon was situated on Ocmulgee Old Fields site where the creek Indians were lived in the past. It is famous for historical and cultural norms that sets them apart from other U.S states. The history of Macon is not only few hundred years old as it dated back more than 17,000 years.

Today, Macon is the area of Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park, served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy. On historic places or attractions, there is a record of 14 historic districts that have more than 5,000 historical homes and buildings.

Is Macon, GA a Good Place to Live?

Yes, Macon, GA is a good place to live not only for its affordability but also because of its cultural and historical significance. The current population of Macon, GA is 156,337, as of 2024. In this bustling city, you can find a lot of entertainment opportunities.

No matter whether you are history enthusiast, foodie lover or just want to explore Macon for entertainment purposes, this city has all for everyone. Also, the crime rate of Macon, GA is quite lower with record of only 13.62% so you can consider this city to live.

Worried about how much you need to live in Macon? Sure, let’s breakdown it into monthly and yearly expense.

If you want to live with family, you have to spend $2,250 per month which equals to $27,000 per year for whole family. But if you want to go on tourist or student visa, you have to bear $2,767 per month and $33,200 for the year.

Cost of Living Score of Different Categories in the Form of Table

• Higher than 100 indicates that it’s more expensive than national average.
• Lower than 100 shows that it’s less expensive than national average.

Pros and Cons of Living in Macon, Georgia

Every place has its pros and cons and Macon has also pros & cons to stay here. The following are some pros and cons that you need to keep in mind before going to Macon, Georgia.

Pros

1. Affordable Cost of Living

As we earlier stated that Macon features affordable cost of living as compared to other cities. Not only Macon housing is affordable but also infrastructure like transportation, technology and food is less expensive. In Macon, healthcare is also affordable so you can take your family or kids too.

2. Mild Winters

Is Macon ga a cheap place to live reddit? The average high temperatures in Maco GA is mild and can be easily bearable but with proper certain precautions. You can pack lightweight winter clothing to easily spend your time conveniently without harsh weather conditions. Every year, the city only gets 1 inch of snow.

3. Various Food & Entertainment Options

Why is Macon Georgia so cheap? In Macon, there are numerous food and entertainment options that allow residents to beat boredom and fully enjoy. Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park is one of the famous attractions that are worth exploring. Other than this, there are also various other entertainment & food options.

4. Vibrant Culture

When staying anywhere, the culture matters a lot. The vibrant culture or Macon makes it one of the best places to spend holidays. The affordable cost of living, friendly community, delicious culinary scenes and late-night carvings of Macon are really exceptional.

5. Community Events & Festivals

Every year, the Macon features variety of community events, festivals and shows. Most of the community events, shows or films combines the elements of arts, music and history. Based on it, this place is truly an entertainment hub for tourists and visitors.

Cons

Living in Macon GA reddit have some drawbacks as well. They are listed below:

1. Minor Safety Issues

One of the biggest drawbacks of living in Macon is the city’s crime rating. Macon has safety grade of D minus with 11^th percentile for safety which means that more than 80% cities are safer than Macon. So, consider it before moving here.

2. Poverty Rate

No doubt the cost of living of Macon is affordable but the poverty rate is higher. As per one report of Census Gov, the poverty rate in Macon is more than 20% that is more than double the U.S. national average. The national average poverty rate is much lower.

3. Springtime Comes with Allergies

When springtime starts in Macon, the locals of Macon get affected from allergy issues. If you want to live here, you have to take daily medications with necessary precautions. Itchy eyes and runny noses are some of the symptoms of allergies,

4. Traffic Condition is Awful

No doubt there are various highways and interstates in Macon but you will face rush traffic conditions here. There are numerous construction sites located around the area that make traffic condition worse day by day. For moving from one place to another, keep this thing in mind.

5. Pesky Pests Issues

In Macon, there are various pesky pests in the form of mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites that make movement sometimes more difficult. This is because of the region’s humid environment and dense foliage. So, keep this thing in your mind too.

Is Macon, GA a Safe Place to Live?

Overall, it has a lower crime rate but according to one report, Macon, GA has a crime rating of D-. According to this rating, 85-90% cities are less dangerous than Macon and rest of the 10-15% are less safe to explore. Here are names of few famous places that are totally safe in Macon:

• Upper River Rd
• Dry Branch
• Forsyth Rd
• Old Clinton Rd
• Lizella

Macon, ga worst place to live and visit is near the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

Final Ideas!

Whether you are already located in Macon or just moving towards to Macon in few days, we have thoroughly guided you about “is Macon GA a cheap place to live​ or not?” Also, we shared pros & cons with you so you could easily make an informed decision.

Macon is not only affordable place to live but also beautiful attraction for many visitors. With this guide, we hope that you finalize your decision for relocating to Macon or not. Also, we hope that you have a memorable time here if you want to relocate.

Frequently Asked Questions